A devastated widow has led tributes after the death of her cancer-hit husband. Dad-of seven Kev Coles was only diagnosed with bowel cancer last September.
But the 46-year-old passed away at his Meir home on Thursday. Now an online appeal originally set up by wife Kayleigh to raise money to support Kev's cancer fight is going towards the cost of his funeral.
Medics had warned dog trainer Kev that he only had months to live - and the couple married in December after bringing their summer 2025 wedding forward. It followed criticism that the NHS - Willow Bank Surgery and the Royal Stoke University Hospital - had taken too long to diagnose the cancer.
Brave Kayleigh said: "He passed away on Thursday morning. It was sudden and he went peacefully holding my hand.
"I'm so lost without him. I love him so much, there is a huge hole that is missing and my heart is hurting more than I can ever explain. He said he would be sitting on the moon looking down, talking to me, watching over me. And that's what I'll be doing for the rest of my days until we're together again, looking at the moon at the love of my life who didn't deserve any of this.
"His final days were really hard. He struggled and was in lots of pain but he was never alone and passed away surrounded by family. The online appeal is now going to be used to raise money for his funeral to give him the send-off he deserves and so all the people whose lives were touched by him can say goodbye.
"I want to thank StokeonTrentLive for sharing his story. We have already received messages from people who had taken their loved-ones to be checked so if it raises awareness and helps just one person then his death won't be in vain. We are so incredibly devastated."
To support the online appeal, click here.
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