Cricketer Shaun Marsh and his wife Rebecca share their heartache after a shock cancer death


WAG shares gutwrenching post as her mother dies of lung cancer despite NEVER smoking a cigarette: ‘You were beautiful in death as you were in life’

  • Rebecca Marsh, wife of cricketer Shaun, has opened up about losing her mother 
  • She paid a touching tribute to her mother Annette O’Donovan on Friday  
  • Mrs O’Donovan passed away from lung cancer despite never having smoked  

Rebecca Marsh has opened up on the heartache of losing her mother to stage four lung cancer, first diagnosed in 2019. 

The shattered wife of star cricketer Shaun Marsh paid a touching tribute to her mother Annette O’Donovan after she died on Thursday. 

‘At 9:43pm last night, my beautiful mum took her final breath and grew her wings. You were as beautiful in death as you were your whole life @nettydonovan,’ Ms Marsh wrote to her 61,000 Instagram followers. 

Rebecca Marsh paid a touching tribute to her mother Annette O'Donovan on Friday (pictured together)

Rebecca Marsh paid a touching tribute to her mother Annette O’Donovan on Friday (pictured together) 

Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh with wife Rebecca and children Austin and Mable (pictured)

Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh with wife Rebecca and children Austin and Mable (pictured) 

‘I feel so incredibly blessed to have had you as my mum. Thank you a million times over for everything. I will carry your smile, your laugh, your energy and your wise words with me for the rest of my life,’ she wrote. 

Mrs O’Donovan was diagnosed with terminal adenocarcinoma lung cancer in December 2019 despite never having smoked a cigarette, reports Perth Now. 

She underwent a newly pioneered treatment involving breakthrough medications that fight the particular strain of the cancer Mrs O’Donovan had. 

The expensive treatment allowed her to extend a three-month prognosis for another 12 months, which she was able to spend with her grandchildren Austin and Mabel. 

‘I’m so angry you never reached the final chapter of your life. I wanted so desperately for you and dad to grow old together. I wanted you to be there for all of the kid’s milestones. But I’m comforted by the fact you got to spend almost five years as a grandmother,’ Ms Marsh wrote in her post. 

Mrs O'Donovan said she felt fortunate there was a drug which was able to extend her prognosis (pictured with Ms Marsh)

Mrs O’Donovan said she felt fortunate there was a drug which was able to extend her prognosis (pictured with Ms Marsh) 

Part of Ms Marsh's post from Friday (pictured)

Part of Ms Marsh’s post from Friday (pictured) 

‘Resting was something you were never good at mum, but it’s your time to rest now. Your energy will never die and you’ll be forever young in our memories. See you in my dreams,’ she said. 

Mrs O’Donovan had previously revealed she considered herself fortunate that there was a drug available that could extend her prognosis – adding she did not see the ‘point in being miserable’. 

Ms Marsh has become an ambassador for the Lung Foundation to raise awareness around the disease and the fact that that even those who don’t smoke are susceptible. 

The Lung Foundation Australia is a non-profit which raises awareness and funds for treatment research for a variety of diseases affecting the lungs. 

Mrs O'Donovan (pictured with her husband and their dog) had never smoked

Mrs O’Donovan (pictured with her husband and their dog) had never smoked 

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