The heartbroken husband of an "inspirational" headteacher who tragically died after going to the doctors with a "stitch" says she was "like a light that never goes out". Ros Atkins, 43 who worked at Weston Primary School, Runcorn, sadly passed away on October 3, 2022, after being diagnosed with stage four terminal bowel cancer.
The principal, from Gateacre, had been on holiday with her husband John and their daughter Maggie, then six, in Scotland when she started experiencing a stitch-like pain in the right side of her body. The 43-year-old initially assumed she had pulled a muscle while sleeping in hotel beds but visited a doctor when she arrived home as her pain worsened, the ECHO reports.
After undergoing a number of scans and a colonoscopy at St Helens Hospital, Ros was given the devastating news that she had stage four terminal bowel cancer. She was also informed that the secondary cancer cells had spread to her liver and lymph nodes and she only had between 18 months and five years left to live.
Paying tribute to his beloved late wife, John, 42, said: "She was a real beacon to us, to all our family and friends she's an inspiration. Even though she's not here, we still talk about her and celebrate her and remember her, and I don't see that ever changing.
"We met at St Martin's College and were together for 22 years, but we knew each other for 25. She lived in a girls' flat above our lads' flat, and from the first day we met, we hung around in a big group; we stuck together from day one."
The loving mum was described by school governors as a "well-respected and much loved headteacher" who "enriched the lives of many children with her caring nature, encouraging all to be the best version of themselves."
Ros was taken into the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton as her health declined and, on March 23, John along with the couple's friends and family will celebrate her life as a part of the Marie Curie's third National Day of Reflection.
Buildings across the city, including the majestic Liver and Cunard buildings, will be lit up in the charity's signature bright yellow in memory of those who have died of cancer, while Weston Primary School pupils will decorate their school gates with yellow ribbons.
John said: "It's been a difficult few months, but the Marie Curie appeal has given me something to focus on. We're passionate about supporting them, and all our friends and family are supporting them in various ways, whether that's running marathons, knitting, or holding business lunches. That's why Thursday is such an important day for us. It's a chance for us all to come together and remember Ros."
John admitted he originally struggled with the idea of his wife in a hospice and had a misunderstanding about how beneficial being in there would actually be for her. He said: "I never, ever wanted to set foot in Marie Curie. My misconception was that it was a place you'd never want to go to, but it's an unbelievable place in many respects.
He has now thanked the incredible staff who he said "can't do enough for you" while you're in their care. He said: "Initially their priority was to manage Ros' pain, and they were able to devote more time and care than she would've had in a normal hospital.
"There was nothing they wouldn't try. That went not just for Ros, but anyone who went in there. What I'm most grateful for is the continuation of their support for Maggie and myself. That's why we want to give something back. It's important to us. It's part of our life story now. I'd rather embrace it.
"One of the final things that made me in awe of them was that Ros would have turned 44 on October 11. She passed away on the 3rd, but the nurses knew what was coming and they suggested bringing her birthday forward to celebrate it.
"We had a little party, put the telly on, put some music on. Little things like that goes far beyond what a normal nurse would do. Even the day Ros passed, they went out of their way to go above and beyond for us. They're all just amazing.
"We always had a little October holiday with our close friends, which we called Octoberfest. This year we've called it Rosfest, because that's the power she had over our friendship group. "
John and Maggie will also make an appearance in the BBC Lifeline Appeal on BBC1 which airs at 12.05pm on Sunday, March 26, to show their support for the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton where Ros spent her final days alive.
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