Becky living life to the full at her wedding.
THE family of Becky Morton, the young surgeon who tragically lost her cancer battle, have paid tribute to her bravery and compassion.
They have also urged women who find a lump in their breast to demand a biopsy, something Becky campaigned for.
Becky, whose fight against the NHS postcode lottery captured the hearts of Islanders, died aged just 32, at her Shorwell home two weeks ago, in the arms of her husband and childhood sweetheart, Simon Morton, and parents, Neil and Brenda Smith.
Her family said: "The grief we feel is enormous but is overtaken by how honoured we feel to have had such an amazing and incredible person in our lives. We are deeply proud of Becky, who simply wanted to spend her life loving this planet and caring for others. We will always remember her optimistic outlook, even during difficult times.
"Becky was one of the world’s brightest lights, a beacon of enthusiasm, passion, compassion and brilliance.
"Within one minute of being with her, you knew you were in the presence of a truly special, beautiful, caring and courageous woman who, even through the immensely challenging past three years, would continue to put everyone else’s needs before her own."
A former Ryde High School student who moved to Oxford to work as a urology surgeon, Becky was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. The condition spread to her liver and bones.
Doctors gave her 18 months to live but, determined to fight, Becky returned home, where she campaigned for NHS Isle of Wight to fund a pioneering radiotherapy treatment and sued her former NHS trust for failing to spot her breast cancer.
Although the treatment worked at first, enabling her to travel to the Galapagos Islands, some liver tumours remained and Becky suffered a stroke last year. She was cared for at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice from March.
Her family, who said a private 'good night’ at the IW Crematorium, asked people to make a donation to the hospice if they wished to honour Becky’s memory and thanked the Island community for its continued support.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk