Birmingham cancer teen Omar Al Shaikh marries days before death Published duration 25 June 2015

image caption Omar Al Shaikh and Amie Cresswell got married on the ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Friday

A terminally ill teenager married his school sweetheart three days before dying from leukaemia.

Omar Al Shaikh and Amie Cresswell, both 16, tied the knot in front of family, friends and patients on a ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Omar, from Brierley Hill in the West Midlands, died on Monday after a suitable stem cell donor could not be found in time.

He had proposed to Amie after learning he only had days left to live.

Omar's mother Mirabela said he stayed strong until the end.

"He planned everything," she said.

"Marrying Amie was one of his wishes, he just wanted to make it right before he died, because he said 'if God asks me, I will say this is my wife.'

"Everything happened so fast, but everything was beautiful and seeing him happy, everyone else was happy."

Omar's aunt Anca Dumitriu said: "It was beautiful and he was happy... after he put the ring on Amie's finger he held her and was like 'you're mine now'. He was proper happy."

image caption Omar's mother Mirabela Al Shaikh said he was strong right until the end

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)

What is it?

A blood cancer which occurs when specialised stem cells found in bone marrow produce excessive numbers of immature white blood cells, known as blast cells

Excessive production of blast cells, which lack some properties found in healthy cells, can lead to a decrease in the number of red blood cells and platelets

It means the body cannot fight infections, carry enough oxygen, or clot properly

Why does it happen?

A number of factors which can increase the risk of developing AML have been identified. These include:

Exposure to very high levels of radiation, including previous treatment with radiotherapy

Exposure to benzene - a chemical used in manufacturing also found in cigarette smoke

An underlying blood disorder or genetic condition (such as Down's syndrome)

Source: NHS Choices

Former Air Cadet Omar, who wore his dressing gown during the Islamic ceremony, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after fainting during a football match.

His mixed Arab and Romanian heritage made it difficult to find a stem cell donor and by the time one was eventually found, he was too ill to have the transplant.

Medical staff broke news the cancer had gone into his bone marrow earlier this month.

media caption Omar's aunt Anca Dumitriu said the wedding made him happy

His mother said he was strong right until the end.

"He died in peace," she said.

Friends and relatives are urging people to sign the Anthony Nolan register. The charity recruits stem cell donors and carries out research to make bone marrow transplants more effective.