Grantham mum found love shortly before breast cancer diagnosis with man who lost his wife to Covid-19

A Grantham mum who was diagnosed with cancer shortly after starting a new relationship is celebrating her love for a man who lost his wife of 32 years to Covid.

Sarah Perry, 45, was a single mother of two daughters before meeting widower Nick Wiles, 59.

Sarah, who works in Grantham Morrisons, was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after meeting Nick. He chose to stand by her.

Sarah, who lives in Grantham, said: “We got together three weeks before I was diagnosed and I said to him, if you want to walk, then walk, that’s fine because going through cancer is a big thing.”

She explained that she had spent three years on her own, had built herself back up and that “life was going really well”, before her diagnosis on April 27.

Sarah had her third treatment of eight on Monday (August 1), and will need a full mastectomy.

“I lost my hair after my first treatment. It’s going well, but I don’t know how to thank him.

“My mum said it’s as though I have a guardian angel. I need support because I have no family in Grantham.”

Sarah wanted to share her story to thank Nick.

“He’s my support network and I just want to say a big ‘thank you’ to him,” she said.

“If I hadn’t met Nick, I would have had to walk this path on my own.

“I’m a single mum, so I have dealt with a lot of things on my own over the past three years. It is as though he came into my life at the right time.”

Nick, who has a daughter, lost his wife of 32 years to Covid about 18 months ago.

Sarah said: “He has been lost in the world on his own for a year and a half, so I’m trying to help him rebuild his life.

“We’re rebuilding our lives together. Two broken hearts meet and become one.”

Sarah said they are working on his garden at the moment, because he liked gardening with the wife he lost.

“Nick has a daughter who I haven’t met yet. It is going to be an honour to meet her when I do.

“I’m not trying to replace her mum. I’m supporting him. He still misses his wife.”

Nick and Sarah met in the Farrier pub in Harlaxton Road. The pair are regulars and Sarah said staff have been supportive.

“I was doing Slimming World in Grantham Squash Club on the other side of the road,” said Sarah.

“I was losing weight and had three pounds to go to reach my target.

“He cottoned on that I was going in the Farrier week after week and he asked if I wanted a drink.

“I said ‘I’m on my own, I don’t do that!’ But one thing led to another.”

Sarah is originally from North London, having moved to Grantham about 10 years ago, while Nick is originally from Lincoln.

She added: “My youngest daughter has a really strong bond with Nick which is nice. She calls him ‘Nicky Boy’.”