Burnley couple who tied the knot at Pendleside Hospice to celebrate one-year anniversary

Since returning to their Cliviger home Dr Abigail Page (38), who was an inpatient at the time of the wedding, and Mark Clegg, have been using the hospice’s virtual services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Abigail, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, said: “Our wedding day was so special. Everyone at Pendleside made sure we had a fairytale ceremony. If I had all the money in the world I wouldn’t change it for a wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral or some exotic location. It was so wonderful.”

During the lockdowns of 2020 Abigail and Mark have taken part in the Tuesday chats and Thursday quizzes organised on Zoom by Pendleside’s activities coordinator Gemma Hildred and psychotherapist Jeannette Campbell.

Abigail has also enjoyed the hospice’s mindfulness sessions on YouTube. “The sessions have been so relaxing and I have even learned how to make a bird feeder for my garden!” she said.

Abigail spent seven years at university and while studying for her PhD was sponsored by pharmaceutical giants Glaxo Smith Cline who she later worked for in their drugs development laboratory.

Mark works for Trolex, a global supplier of monitoring systems for the mining, industrial and tunnelling sectors.

Ironically, the Covid-19 restrictions have had some positive effects on her condition.

Abigail explained: “While I haven’t had many visitors in the last few months because of coronavirus when family members have called they have worn facemasks and kept a safe distance which has prevented me picking up any other bugs apart from Covid which normally I may have done.

“Another plus is that Mark has been working from home rather than having long days away driving to and from his work in Cheshire. It has given us a lot of time together which in normal circumstances wouldn’t have happened.

“Living in isolation has more or less been my life for the last four years since my diagnosis with leukaemia so while it is a little wearing it’s what I have become accustomed to.”

Just over a year ago Abigail’s family were called to her bedside at The Christie in Manchester when doctors feared the worst.

But she recovered consciousness and was later transferred to Pendleside where she spent around eight weeks before moving back home.

Pendleside’s chief executive Helen McVey said: “We are so pleased Abigail and Mark are celebrating their first anniversary. Their wedding day was such a memorable day for everyone at the hospice.

“And I am delighted that she has been able to use our virtual services from her home during this terrible year.”