‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through’ - husband loses his life after wife raises £35,000 to save him

Mark Redhead at his home in Grimston with his wife Justyna and their son Olly (6). Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Justyna Redhead, from Grimston, King's Lynn, raised more than £35,000 in less than two weeks to pay for her husband to attend a specialist clinic in Germany.

Mark Redhead, 43, was diagnosed with stage three brain tumour in 2011, but after several bouts of chemotherapy he was told the cancer was terminal.

The family flew to Germany in October 2017 for Mr Redhead to undergo three weeks of treatment, but when he returned home his condition quickly deteriorated.

Mark Redhead at his home in Grimston with son Olly (6). Picture: Ian Burt

'It was the hardest thing I've ever been through,' Mrs Redhead said. 'We were told he would die before Christmas.'

But Mr Redhead held on to his life and the family spent their last Christmas together.

Two months later, on the night of Friday, February 23, Mr Redhead died peacefully in his home with his wife and mother, Ann Redhead, beside him. It was the day after his birthday.

Mark Redhead, with wife Justyna and son Olly. Picture: Justyna Redhead (Image: Justyna Redhead)

Mrs Redhead said he was taken to the Thornally chapel of rest as she did not want their six-year-old son Olly to wake up and find his father had taken his last breath.

'When I told him he burst out crying,' she said. 'He asked does that mean we won't have daddy anymore?

'I told him he will always be in our hearts. He said we have to talk about him and to remember him and to love him.'

Mark and Justyna Redhead on their wedding day on August 12, 2011. Picture: Justyna Redhead (Image: Justyna Redhead)

Mr Redhead's funeral will take place at the Mintlyn Crematorium on Tuesday, March 20 at 10.15am, and his wake will take place at the Three Horseshoes Pub in Roydon, his favourite pub where the family would visit frequently for Sunday lunch.

'We had a brilliant relationship, we never argued and tried to be a happy family,' Mrs Redhead said. 'We were soulmates and best friends.

'Mark was loved by a lot of people, he was very outgoing and had lots of hobbies - cricket, shooting and fishing, he loved his wildlife.

Mark Redhead enjoyed fishing as one of his many hobbies. Picture: Justyna Redhead (Image: Justyna Redhead)

'He was outspoken and he was never a follower, he was very strong physically and mentally.

'He was a very unique person, a very good dad and husband.'

Mark Redhead with son Olly Redhead. Picture: Justyna Redhead (Image: Justyna Redhead)

Mark Redhead with son Olly Redhead. Picture: Justyna Redhead (Image: Justyna Redhead)