Zurich Legacy Kitchen Cookbook - Book - Page 25
L e g ac y K it c hen
Edd
Wilson
I met Sophie while I was living in
On Wednesday 6 November, I got
Bournemouth and studying in my final year
engaged to the most perfect girl. On
at Bournemouth University. When I moved
Monday 11 November, I had the honour
back to Wiltshire, I would travel down most
of marrying her by her bedside at Poole
weekends and head back for work on the
Hospital. Later that day, my beautiful wife
Monday. Eventually, we moved into a little
lost her battle with cancer.
house in Bournemouth together.
We talked about our relationship over
Five years before she died, Sophie
the previous nine years, thanking each
was diagnosed with potentially cancerous
other for the memories we'd made and
cells on one of her ovaries. The following
everything we'd been through together.
year, she was diagnosed with ovarian
We spoke about what might come next, and
cancer. Over the years that followed, she
agreed that whatever it might be, when my
went through IVF, further surgery and, later,
time comes, we'll find each other again.
a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with
She said something that still breaks
womb cancer.
my heart to this day: "If you find someone
In August 2024, the cancer returned in
else, don't hold back." I couldn't, and still
multiple places. Through everything, Soph
can't, comprehend how someone so unwell,
never complained, was never down and
facing the scariest thing any human being
never gave up. I have never seen resilience
can experience, could still be thinking
like it. Even when she was incredibly
about me.
unwell, she was still thinking of everyone
I held her hand and every few minutes
else – reminding me about birthdays and
gave it a gentle squeeze and told her I loved
appointments, asking me to check in on
her. She squeezed my hand back every
friends and making sure I was okay.
time, right up until the end.
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