Not long after they walked down the aisle in hopes of happily spending the rest of their lives together, this newlywed couple was struck by tragedy. Then, soon after her husband’s passing, she notices a detail in their wedding photos that sent chills down her spine.
Emma Cotillard and her husband Justin were both 33 and 29, respectively, when they said their “I dos” in the UK. The newlywed couple was eagerly looking forward to their honeymoon in France when tragedy struck.
After only one night on their honeymoon, Emma awoke to find her husband acting like a completely different person. Medical testing revealed that Justin had an aggressive brain tumor known as a glioblastoma and he was only given weeks to live.
Understandably, the stress of this shocking prognosis caused Emma to go into premature labor, and she gave birth to their daughter Mia shortly thereafter.
Sadly, Justin passed away seven months later while in hospice care however it wasn’t until after his death that Emma noticed something alarming in her wedding photos which may have been indicative that her loving husband had a brain tumor all along.
“Looking at the wedding photos now, you can see that the right side of his face is droopy,” she said.
A brain tumor is defined as an abnormal growth of cells within or around the brain which can be either malignant or benign. According to the Brain Tumor Charity, “Brain tumors kill more adults under 40 than any other form of cancer” due largely in part because symptoms are often missed by family members until it is too late.
Symptoms differ depending on the type and location of the tumor but can include headaches, seizures, nausea/vomiting, changes in speech or vision, balance problems etc. It is important for people who experience these symptoms to seek immediate medical attention so there is potential for early diagnosis and effective treatment options before it becomes fatal.
After losing her beloved husband so suddenly at such a young age due largely in part because his symptoms went unnoticed for so long, Emma has made it her mission not only help keep his memory alive but also ensure others do not suffer similar tragedies due to lack of awareness about brain tumors and how they can be detected earlier with proper medical attention if caught soon enough.
She has spearheaded various campaigns dedicated towards raising funds for research as well as spreading awareness about signs associated with brain tumors through print media outlets which have helped bring much needed attention to this issue plaguing many individuals throughout the world today.
