After she accepted, their parents arranged a make-believe wedding at Reece's home in Mackworth, Derby. He died the next day with his family.
Reece's mother Lorraine Fleming said he told her, "I can go now" after his wish had been granted.
The 28-year-old said: ""He was so proud of her, and we were proud of them both."
Reece was diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2004, when he was aged just four.
He fought the disease for four years until May when doctors told him he had just weeks to live.
Ms Fleming, said she and his stepfather Mick Thompson had tried to help him achieve as much as possible before his death, including marrying his sweetheart.
"When we found out that we only had a few weeks with him we tried to do absolutely everything with him that we could.
"Him and Ellie had been 'special friends' for a couple of years but then they broke up.
"We said we'd have a pirate party, and Ellie came. She went to visit Reece a few times in hospital as well.
She added: "We also had a football and laser quest party, apparently that's when he proposed to her."
The pair went out to dinner in the mayor's limousine and the families organised a 'wedding', complete with rings, a stand-in vicar and a certificate.
The ceremony was carried out on July 4 and the following day Reece died at home with his family and a Macmillan nurse.
At his funeral, mourners followed a horse-drawn hearse on foot.
Ms Fleming added: "Even on the Saturday that he died, he got out of bed and walked to the sofa.
"He always tried walking, right to the end, so we thought if he walked for us then we would walk for him."
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- groups:
- News, Green, News and Politics, Earth and Science, 5 more
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- tags:
- News and Politics, News, Green, Earth and Science, 12 more + add
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- goldenways
- added this
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wow, that pretty amazing for an 8 year old's wish to be to get married to his sweetheart, at least we know that he died happy and in love
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- knightlynight200
- 1 year ago
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So, what happened to the little girl he married? That seems like a heavy tragedy to go on from.. she's 8 years old and returning to school and her husband for a day has passed away?
I get the sentiment though. That is sweet, and who is culture to say that letting them have a marriage ceremony is silly. That's so sad though.
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Heartbreaking and Heartwarming. It's hard to know which is stronger in this story.
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what a bittersweet story
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Aw, at least he got his last wish granted.
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it's true... love knows no age
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- Chellin_OftheCross
- 1 year ago
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aww
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- jimenagamio
- 1 year ago
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That's a beautiful story.
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- Cuddlebones
- 1 year ago
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awww, thats so cute, and sweet, and sad. but at least he was happy.
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- reallynatasha
- 1 year ago
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"He always tried walking, right to the end, so we thought if he walked for us then we would walk for him."
There was no better way to end that article....perfection can exist in writing/speaking---words.
And those are the kind of people that should never die. What a great family and a great share.
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i dont want to sound like a pussy, but i nearly cried
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how incredibly sad. Love exists, this is proof.
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- Painter_Gene
- 1 year ago
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"love does not care for time nor order." -Vatsyayana
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- SLindsayM1991
- 1 year ago
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Very touching story. It reminds me of the story about the young boy whose girlfriend had a severe heart problem, and he told her that he would soon die and she could have his heart. A while later, the boy did indeed die, his girlfriend received his heart and lived.
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- Vierotchka
- 1 year ago
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There's some rather touching pictures of the young lovebirds at The Sun' website. It's nice he got his final wish.
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8 year olds getting married? That's just weird and creepy. You gotta' imagine that is going to have some psychological bearing on the little girls life.
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- HighT3chR3dn3ck
- 1 year ago
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Oh no not depressing at all.
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- Brittanyope89
- 1 year ago
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God, this just tugs at my heart. An honest and pure heartfelt story.
"It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death."
- Thomas Mann- -
i think the girl was pushed into it.....now shes always going to have to bear with that for the rest of her life.........its a great story...but 8 years old...
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- hankgoold09
- 1 year ago
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While I think it is a little weird to see an 8-year-old girl dressed up as a bride, children play family all the time, so there is no harm. It is amazing that she was such a great friend and stood by him to the end and if the mock ceremony was the little boy's last wish and it allowed him to die happy, it is all fair.
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- JanaPokana
- 1 year ago
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I don't really understand this. I think loosing a son or daughter might be a very traumatising event. However, one thing is to have a playdate and pretend the kids get married while they are playing in the playroom. Another big different thing is to pretend a real wedding with 8 year old kids. I am sorry, this is not right. We all have had sweethearts at that age. The little girl does not need to know that marriage is desirable or is expected. We don't know what her interests wil be when she grows up.She for sure will remmember this day when she got married, the parents put all this together and the next day her little friend was dead. I am sure, the kids would have been happier to pretend they get married in their own terms and even to pretend they got a baby with a plastic doll in a stroller or whatever they wanted to do.
I find this sick. However, I am who to say what is the best way for parents to raise their children. -
Sadly strange... may he rest in peace.
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I distinctly remember idly wondering as a child, in a "My Girl" meets "Shadowlands" sort of way, who I'd marry if I were about to die. I think this story really resonates with people because it's such a human thing to want -- nothing really 'strange' about it in the slightest.
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Ahhhh. You all have problems with you. 8 year olds getting married, not ok.
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This is very heartwarming. I think it does place a lot on the little girl though. However, I think she'll be able to understand and be proud of what she did for her friend once she's older.
