Mark Farren and his wife Terri Louise in happier times before he was so cruelly struck down an aggressive tumour
THE widow of the late great hot shot Derry City striker Mark Farren has told how she said a final farewell to her much husband – just moments before he lost his fight against the ravages of cancer
The footballer passed away in February after battling an aggressive brain tumour.
Mark was just 33 and left behind wife Terri-Louise.
He played for Derry City from 2003 to 2012 and was their all-time top scorer.
Mark scored 113 goals in 209 appearances for the club.
He joined Irish League side Glenavon in 2013 but was forced to quit the game because of his illness.
Mark’s heartbroken wife Terri-Louise told of their last moments together and how she told him to go and be with the triplets they had tragically lost.
The three girls Terri, Marley and Millie, were born in August 2014 at just 23 weeks, but passed away three weeks later.
“I remember saying to him, ‘Go and be with the girls. They need you. Don’t stay because of me, I have friends and family to look after me, they need you now, let go.’ And he squeezed my hand and that was it,” Terri said.
The 30-year-old recalls how Mark stayed positive right to the end.
“In the last few weeks, he couldn’t really speak, though I was able to understand everything he wanted and every morning and every night he made the effort to tell me he loved me.”
She revealed how she had made two promises to her husband.
“Mark made me promise two things – that I would always stay connected to his football world and go to matches and events and that I would always stay in touch with his friends.
“His legacy will live on through me doing those things,” she added.
