Family Wedding: Terminally Ill Dad Fulfills Wish To Walk His Children Down The Aisle

The last wishes of a terminally ill man was granted over the weekend as he got the chance to walk all four of his children down the aisle. Kenneth McHugh’s emotional request was borne out of the fact that his prognosis is so dire that doctors doubt he’ll live long enough to see the actual wedding days.

The Chester County father’s world came toppling down when at the age of 42, he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in 2010. Now, after 5 years of fighting for his life, the doctors have given the heartbroken father the recommendation that he discontinues chemotherapy and instead focus on getting the most out of his remaining days. As the father prepares to leave his family, he is not just focusing on himself, but also on those he’ll leave behind. When questioned about final wishes, walking his children down the aisle was in Kenneth’s uppermost thoughts and on Saturday, Ken, his wife, and children gathered and made his wish a reality.

In an interview with ABC News, Tammy McHugh, wife of the terminally ill Kenneth said that the day went better than they all hoped.

“He fulfilled his wish. His ultimate last wish was to walk his children, especially his girls, down the aisle and he did it. I was surprised myself that we were able to find and experience the joy of the day. We had a great time, being all together and no one said the word ‘cancer.”

Mrs McHugh also gave an account of the day her husband found out that he had cancer. She said the moment he walked into the house from the doctor’s appointment she knew that something was wrong by the look on his face. His news devastated her and the children. Though the doctors have not given an official time frame to the family they have told the terminally ill Kenneth to try and get anything he needs done, done as soon as possible.

The cancer made him unable to work the past 5 years so McHugh had set up a GoFundMe account in an effort to leave his family a way to live comfortably. NBC Philadelphia explained that on the page the cancer patient had written that his intentions are to give his children an opportunity to continue their education without his cancer being a burden onto them. He also has the support of many around him.

Ken McHugh's last wish shirts now for sale @BonfireFunds https://t.co/x5DJIbq3rk

— Tammy (@missmchught) October 5, 2015

“As I prepare to leave this world, I, most importantly, want to leave my children with good memories of a father who loved them dearly. I also wish for a way to reduce the burden on my wife as she faces a new reality and I hope to be able to let them know they can pursue an education and future without the fear of not having enough money.”

Team CMMD, a Pennsylvania-based cancer foundation that Tammy had joined helped to make the desire that Kenneth McHugh had of walking his children down the aisle a reality. No doubt another emotionally filled post on his GoFundMe page more than tugged on their heartstrings.

“The most horrible and emotional thing my wife and I have ever had to do was to tell our children I was dying. To tell them I wouldn’t see them all turn into teenagers, wouldn’t see them graduate high school, get married – that I wouldn’t walk any of my three beautiful daughters down the aisle or get to hold and spoil any of their children, my grandchildren.”

The McHugh’s four children consist of three daughters and a son. In what they called “the family wedding,” Samantha, 19, Julia, 15 and Kathryn, 14, and son Dylan, 17, each walked down the aisle on October 3 with their father. In addition, Tammy and Kenneth who have been married for 20 years, took the opportunity to renew their vows with their children as witnesses. Mrs McHugh said that emotions overwhelmed that day and both her and her husband cried as they renewed their vows.

As he walked each child down the aisle Kenneth McHugh also read them a summary letter reflecting on their time together and his hopes for them in the future. Tammy said this ensured that the children all knew that “even though he won’t be there, he will always be by their sides.”

[Photos Courtesy Of Ken McHugh GoFundMe page]