Cancer battler Erin Graham enjoys fairy tale wedding

By Chris Paver
Updated November 6 2012 - 2:35am, first published October 9 2011 - 10:13am
Erin walks down the aisle with her father Chris Graham;
Erin walks down the aisle with her father Chris Graham;
Erin and Jamie Graham at Bass Point on their wedding day with children Trey and Harlee. Pictures: DAVE TEASE
Erin and Jamie Graham at Bass Point on their wedding day with children Trey and Harlee. Pictures: DAVE TEASE

After two years spent battling a rare cancer, Erin Graham's wedding day was a dream come true.The 30-year-old Albion Park mum was radiant as she and Jamie Graham tied the knot before 130 guests at Bass Point Reserve on Saturday."I just remember arriving and walking down this red aisle with so many gorgeous friends and family just staring at me and seeing my gorgeous man standing at the end looking at me, waiting," an elated Mrs Graham said yesterday."Everything that we ever wanted in a wedding, we got to have it."The couple's journey to married life was agonising, in stark contrast to the joy they experienced on the day.In 2009, Mrs Graham was diagnosed with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare cancer that would require aggressive treatment if she were to survive. Their daughter Harlee was just eight months old.The cancer started in the back of her nose and spread down her throat into her lungs.Late last year, with the cancer in remission, she discovered she was pregnant with twins, but by February the cancer had returned.The family faced the heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy so treatment could begin.At Saturday's ceremony, balloons were released in memory of the twins. Mrs Graham's stepson Trey, 9, stood beside his father as best man.The service, under stormy skies, was possible thanks to the efforts of friend and marriage celebrant Sharon Campbell, who arranged business and individual donations of money, goods and services to bring the fairy tale to life."The only thing that she wanted once she found out that the cancer was back was to get married, so how could you not," Mrs Campbell said. "I reckon that's just brilliant that the Illawarra has rallied together for somebody who was genuinely deserving."A reception at Jamberoo Valley Lodge followed the ceremony as Mrs Graham's wedding wish, to forget sickness for a day, came true.Now the family must wait for the results of her next scans, in November."I guess life goes on and we just take each day as it comes," Mrs Graham said.

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