By Marianne Flood
A Derry woman who is battling leukaemia is renewing her vows to her husband tomorrow, 17 years after they first tied the knot.
Carmel and Eugene Mellon were so disappointed with their wedding day that they do not have any pictures or videos of it.
“It just wasn’t right,” said Carmel.
“I had wanted to go to Rome, but that didn’t happen.
“We got married in St Eugene’s Cathedral, but it wasn’t the way we wanted.
“I have no pictures left or a video or anything like that.”
Carmel, who is now 55, said the only part of her wedding she was happy with was being given away by her beloved younger brother Brendan, who had special needs.
Brendan passed away from oesophageal cancer almost 10 years ago at the age of just 33, but while he was alive she was his constant companion.
“I called him Baby Brendan and we just went everywhere together.
“I said to Eugene when we got engaged. if you want to marry me you have to take Baby Brendan too because we came as a pair, and he was happy to do that.
“He comes from a great family and I had the best mammy and daddy-in-law in the world, Johnny and Lily Mellon from Beechwood Avenue. I married in to a fabulous family.
“I was very lucky too with the parents I had, Brendan and Eileen Kelly from the Northland Road."
Sadly, Carmel and Eugene’s parents have passed away and they suffered a further loss with the death of her brother Adrian, who also passed away from cancer.
Neuropathy
Carmel is currently undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia and also suffers from arthritis, diabetes and neuropathy which causes numbness and pain in her feet.
Despite having to take 29 tablets a day to manage her health conditions she has a positive outlook on life.
“There’s a lot of people worse off than me, that’s the way I see it,” she said.
“The treatment leaves me tired and I’m in pain with my feet, but my white blood cells have improved and the only way is up. The glass is half full not half empty, that’s the way I see it.
“I didn’t want to lose my hair, so the doctor gave me tablets to try and stop that. They give me nausea so I have to take anti-nausea tablets for that, but I haven’t lost my hair so they do seem to be working.”
Bowled over by his wife’s courage in the face of her health difficulties Eugene came the idea for a vow renewal to celebrate their love.
“He’s the romantic one,” admitted Carmel.
“I’m kind and caring, but I haven’t a romantic bone in my body. They say opposites attract.”
Ivory dress
The couple are still very happy after 17 years of marriage and live in Glenbrook with their dog Jack.
“We couldn’t have any children and we always say he is like a son to us, he has brought us so much happiness,” explained Carmel.
“I was devastated when Baby Brendan died, but we had so many special times and we were always making memories together. No matter what life throws at you, you have to be positive.”
Carmel’s new ivory dress and wedding rings arrived on Wednesday and she is now looking forward to her big day.
“I’m not a bit nervous,” she added. “Everything will be grand.”
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