Dying dad gives daughter away on her wedding day to fulfil his final wish

A dad in the final stages of a cancer battle fulfilled his last wish as he gave his daughter away on her wedding day.

Proud James Cassidy, 52, escorted daughter Emma down the aisle after she and husband Scott planned a ceremony in just 9 weeks so he could attend.

Her father's illness is not the first tragedy to hit Emma, who also lost her mum, Karen, 52, to cancer last year.

Emma and Scott were originally going to get married in 2021 but moved the date forward so dad James could attend.

James was helped down the aisle in a wheelchair, as he is now too weak to walk, but was determined to hold her hand.

Emma, 30, from Armadale, West Lothian, said: “It was an emotional moment for us both.

"When dad saw me in my wedding dress for the first time, I couldn’t help but cry.

“He told me I looked beautiful and we both had to fight back tears as we went down aisle. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place.

“Dad’s unable to walk now but he insisted on being by my side in his chair. It’s a moment I’ll treasure forever and I’m so happy we that we brought the wedding forward and granted his dying wish.”

Emma and Scott were married at the Hillcroft Hotel in Whitburn on June 6 in front of 75 guests before flying to Paris for their honeymoon.

Emma admits the weeks leading up to the ceremony were an anxious time as her dad’s health deteriorated.

She said: “The tumour in dad’s throat has spread into his lungs and there’s nothing more doctors can do.

“In the run-up to the wedding, he was very sick for three weeks and unable to eat or drink. Things were looking bad and I was terrified he wouldn’t be able to hang on.

“Thankfully, by the big day he had perked up and that was huge relief. He said there was no way he was going miss it. He was so determined to be there.

“Dad was worried about not being able to walk me down the aisle but I told him it doesn’t matter how you get down, as long as you manage.

Emma also found her perfect dress, although trying it on for the first time without her mum was emotional.

Karen had battled lung cancer before being diagnosed with incurable brain cancer.

Emma was determined to pay a special tribute to her mum at her wedding and carried her favourite flowers in her bouquet.

She said: “I had yellow roses in my flowers and a memory table with pictures of mum and other family members who have passed away. It made me feel like mum was part of it all too.

“It felt like she was watching over us. She’d be proud of dad and how well he has coped.

“When she was given the all-clear from lung cancer, we hoped things would get better. Then we were told it was in her brain and there was nothing more doctors could do.

“I would have loved to have them both at my wedding, but my dad made sure it’s a day I’ll never forget.”

Emma said her dad now wants to make the most of the time he has left.

She added: “It’s painful knowing he won’t always be here. We are going to make as many memories as we can in the time we have left.”

“We shared our first dance with dad and it was such a lovely moment. The day went perfectly and I’m so happy dad was by my side.”

Emma, who works in Ladbrokes, found out James was dying two days before the first anniversary of her mum’s death.

She and Scott, 28, revealed last month how they had brought forward the wedding and, with the help of family and friends, quickly secured a venue, cars, photographer and wedding cake.