Dublin Widow Shares Heartbreaking Story of Love and Loss

A Dublin widow is raising awareness for brain cancer following the devastating loss of her husband, Dean Dunphy, who passed away just three days after their wedding. Dean, 33, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in August 2023, after experiencing alarming symptoms that pointed to a severe neurological condition.

Michaela Dunphy, 31, described the emotional journey the couple endured. After Dean’s diagnosis, which followed years of migraines and headaches that were dismissed as common, they decided to marry on May 18, 2023. They received a Court Exemption Order to bypass the usual three-month notification requirement, allowing them to tie the knot quickly in the garden of Michaela’s mother’s home.

Despite undergoing two brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, Dean’s condition deteriorated rapidly. On their wedding night, he suffered a seizure that led to a hospital admission. Doctors informed Michaela that introducing end-of-life palliative care was necessary and that if Dean survived the next few days, it would be a miracle.

Michaela recounted the emotional goodbye she shared with Dean, stating, “I just needed to be the one to hear his heart stop, that was my closure.” He passed away at 04:35 on May 21, 2023, surrounded by loved ones, including their four-year-old daughter, Sloane.

Navigating life as a single parent has been a challenging task for Michaela. She explained to Sloane, “I said, ‘no, you do have a daddy, he’s just not going to live with us anymore.’” Reflecting on the strength her daughter has shown, Michaela noted, “She’s been looking after me ever since.”

The couple’s journey began with Dean’s alarming symptoms in June 2023, leading to a series of medical evaluations. Initially suspected of having Bell’s palsy, further tests revealed the presence of a brain tumor. Michaela recalled the moment they received the grim diagnosis: “As soon as we heard the word cancer, it was like white noise – I was in shock.”

Following Dean’s initial surgery on August 24, 2023, his prognosis remained bleak, yet the couple remained determined to marry. They had initially envisioned a grand wedding at a local venue but opted for a more intimate ceremony due to Dean’s deteriorating health.

Michaela expressed gratitude for the wedding they had, stating, “We’re so thankful that we got to do it, and we got to do it our way.” Despite the circumstances, they celebrated their love, with food provided by a local café and music that held special meaning for them.

Tragically, the joy of their wedding quickly turned to sorrow. Following their ceremony, Dean’s health declined sharply, and he was moved to a hospital where plans were made for him to return home for his final days. A priest was invited to offer blessings, and Dean received the Last Rites.

Michaela is now committed to raising awareness about brain cancer, vowing to create a foundation in Dean’s name to support research into better treatments. She has started sharing their story on social media, particularly on TikTok, to help others facing similar challenges. “I promised him, I said, ‘I’m not going to stop, I’m going to continue on, it’s going to help me,’” she stated.

As she continues to navigate her grief, Michaela aims to ensure that Sloane can proudly share the legacy of her father. “I want to have a foundation in Dean’s name… and for Sloane to look back and say: ‘That’s my dad,’” she concluded.