Watford Observer Leisure: What's on, food, theatre, cinema and Music in Watford and Hertfordshire

JESS IRELAND AND NICHOLAS WILLIAMS

Our Story: I was 21, just lost three-and-a-half stone on the Cambridge Diet and was feeling a comfortable size 10. With my new found confidence I asked Nick out.

After a very happy year together we decided it was time to get a mortgage and build a home. In January 2008, we got the keys to our new home. Unfortunately, on that day too, I also received my smear test results... I had full-blown cervical cancer.

Having previously fought off Rheumotoid Arthritus at 18 and Endometriosis - which meant many laser treatment operations - I really didn't think life could throw much more at me.

Fortunately Nick was 110% supportive. He came to my pre-op assessment and was with me every step of the way to the operation theatre when I went under general anesthetic to have the cancer removed.

I have never had anyone support me in my life as he has and I felt I needed to express this to him, so I did. On Februray 29, 2008, I got down on one knee and asked Nicholas Williams to marry me; and to my delight, he said: “Yes”.

The cancer may have returned but it does not phase me with Nick by my side.

HOW TO VOTE: To vote for Jess Ireland, all you have to do is call:09011510274. And you can text vote too: Send your text to 80360 starting with BRIDE leave a space and then 0274.

Calls cost no more than 50p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge. Telephone and text voting lines open 16/02/2009 and close 12/03/2009 at 23:59:59pm. For full terms visit www.newsquest.co.uk. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group.