DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS 'WE WERE ABSOLUTELY MEANT TO BE'

Mark Vigors' tragic terminal cancer led to life-saving treatment for his wife Kim

- Cloe Willetts

When Kim and Mark Vigors got the horrific news that he had terminal bowel cancer, they never expected his death might save Kim's life. But after he passed away in May 2022, at age 38, Mark's partner of a decade asked to be referred for a colonoscopy, since she'd always had a "dodgy" stomach.

Kim wanted to ensure her daughters wouldn't lose both parents and it was lucky she did. The Christchurch mum had 15 polyps in her bowel that would've likely turned into cancer by the time she was 50.

"I was also diagnosed with a gastric syndrome that'll probably cause more polyps, but now it's really unlikely I'll develop bowel cancer because we know about it and I have a treatment plan," says Kim, 40, who moved back to the South Island in January after living in Brisbane for 16 years. "If I was in New Zealand, I wouldn't have been able to insist on getting a colonoscopy. They aren't available on request here for younger people wanting peace of mind." Although the mum of Greer, six, and Odette, three, was fortunate to have the polyps removed, the cancer diagnosis for her husband came too late.

When Australian-born mechanical engineer Mark had abdominal discomfort, along with back pain, the loving dad was given a two-week course of medication for a stomach ulcer. When it didn't subside, he went back to the doctor.