BANTING: "She is perfect and I want to spend the rest of my life looking after her."
This was what 35-year-old Lokman Sumadi had to say about his decision to marry his wife, Nor Azurah Othman, 39, who is battling stage-four lung cancer.
"Azurah had asked me if I wanted to continue with the wedding because initially, she did not want to as she felt she could not make me happy because of her condition.
But Lokman would not have it any other way and on Aug 18, the couple wed via video call.
He was with her family in Kampung Sungai Kelambu while she was in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).
A video of their akad nikah (solemnisation) has since gone viral.
The couple were supposed to be solemnised on Sept 7. Still, since Azurah had been hospitalised, Lokman decided to bring the ceremony forward as looking after her would be easier once they were legally married.
He said he could not help but tear up after the solemnisation as he felt blessed to be married to the woman of his dreams even though their akad nikah ceremony differed from regular couples.
"After the ceremony, I made my way to HKL to put a ring on Azurah's finger."
Lokman said he and Azurah have known each other since their schooldays as they lived close by.
However, they only started becoming after exchanging numbers last November.
"Initially, I did not know she was sick and she was only diagnosed in January, two months after he became an item."
He said even though her doctors gave her only a few months to live, leaving Azurah was out of the question.
"I don't need a partner who is always healthy because no one will be healthy forever. It is enough that I have a wife by my side even if she is unwell."
Lokman said he was grateful that many who watched the video prayed for Azurah.
"To those who watched the video, please pray for the happiness of my household, pray for Azurah's health and that she is given the strength to fight the cancer."