THE husband of mum-of-four Sally Major who lost her battle against bowel cancer in a private clinic in Germany has revealed how despite being so gravely ill, she courageously helped him plan her final farewell.

Liam Major said his wife, 33, communicated by blinking to make her last wishes known so he could fulfill what she wanted at her funeral.

Yesterday, Mr Major, 31, and their children followed a horse-drawn hearse from their home in Silsden, along Kirkgate to St James’s Church in Towngate to give thanks for her life.

Her coffin was carried into the packed church by Mr Major, her stepfather, step-brothers and brothers-in-law before those gathered to say their goodbyes sang hymns which included Kum Ba Yah.

Mr Major said: “In her last few days, she could not talk but managed to communicate by blinking. She managed to say what she wanted.

"My brave, beautiful wife was still there for me. Kum Ba Yah was one of Sally’s favourites from when she was young although she had her own alternative words for it. We thought it best to stick to the original for the service though."

Mourners had been asked to wear an item of either royal blue and or yellow in Mrs Major's memory and instead of flowers people were also asked to make a donation to the So, Sally Can Wait Fund.

Mrs Major died at the Hallwang Private Oncology Clinic near Stuttgart in Germany on April 8 where she had been receiving treatment for bowel cancer which was unavailable on the NHS.

The family had resorted to taking out bank loans, remortgaging their home and selling their family car to pay the bills and well-wishers also raised more than £70,000 to help.

Funds leftover and raised in the future will now be split between helping the family pay off debts and a new trust being set up by Mr Major to help young people pay for private bowel cancer screening tests which could save their lives.

After the church service, a cremation took place at Skipton Crematorium where her sisters carried her coffin.

The family then followed mourners to Stirk House near Clitheroe where Mr and Mrs Major had married in 2015 and had their wedding reception.

“It was Sally’s wish,” said Mr Major.

He added: “I’ve not just lost my wife and my soulmate, I’ve lost my focus.

"I’m muddling on but I’m lost without her. I am managing when I’m busy but when I’m not, I am lost.

"The children are very reliant on other people at the moment but we will be fine. We have taken so much comfort from our family and people’s support for which we will forever be grateful.”

Among those at the funeral was Claire Cunningham, of Wakefield, whose treatment for breast cancer, which struck a third time, was successfully cured by the Hallwang Clinic.

“It worked for Claire but sadly not for Sally but we gave it our best shot” said Mr Major.

Donations can be made at youcaring.com/sallymajor-680286 or to Halifax bank account: Sally Major, account number 11065364, sort code 11-07-06.

Mr Major said once funds had helped pay off the family’s debts it would all be directed into the new trust which will keep the name So Sally Can Wait.

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