The end of our South America trip

I am writing this at home in Mablethorpe, just a few days before I embark on my first solo overseas trip. I wanted to write the conclusion to our South America trip.

The day after I posted my last footprint, we went to see Dr Spitz in Rio de Janeiro. He knew as soon as he saw Mark that he was seriously ill. He sent us for tests and scans the same day. The results confirmed what Dr Spitz suspected. Mark was in the final stages of bile duct cancer. His condition was terminal - untreatable and inoperable. This particularly nasty type of cancer has no symptoms until the patient turns yellow through jaundice, by which time there is nothing that can be done.

Following Mark's diagnosis, we had a two-week battle with the insurance company to get repatriated. Once we reached home, Mark only lived for a further five weeks. He died in a hospice close to where we live.

As I continue to struggle with the pain of losing Mark, my only solace is that we had 30 wonderful years together, 25 of them spent travelling the world.

My intention now is to continue living the life we both loved. My first solo adventure starts soon.

Mark Wade 27/07/1960 - 05/05/2025Read more