Pennsylvania Dad Who Fulfilled Wish to Walk Teen Children 'Down the Aisle' Dies

Ken McHugh died of pancreatic cancer Saturday, December 19.

ByABC News
December 21, 2015, 3:33 PM

— -- Ken McHugh, the terminally ill Pennsylvania dad who got his wish to walk all four of his teenage children “down the aisle,” has died.

"We are very saddened by his passing," wife Tammy McHugh of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, told ABC News today. "He fought with every ounce of his strength he had while he continued to be the most caring, supportive, loving, strong and dedicated husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He is already greatly missed."

McHugh said it was in April of 2010 when her husband was diagnosed with stage four neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, at age 42.

PHOTO: McHugh escorted Samantha, 19, Dylan, 17, Julia, 15 and Kathryn, 14, in order of their ages.
McHugh escorted Samantha, 19, Dylan, 17, Julia, 15 and Kathryn, 14, in order of their ages.

"It was quite devastating," she told ABC News in October. "He came home from the doctor's appointment and I was cooking lunch in the kitchen. I could tell by the look on his face that something was wrong.

"He said, 'I have cancer,' McHugh recalled. "At first, I thought he was kidding. And he said 'No, I have cancer.' The kids came home from school and we were all silent. It was just somber."

PHOTO: McHugh was diagnosed with stage four neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in April 2010.
McHugh was diagnosed with stage four neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in April 2010.

After discontinuing chemotherapy, Ken's final request was to walk his four kids --Samantha, 19, Julia, 15, Kathryn, 14, and Dylan, 17 – “down the aisle” to make up for the wedding days doctors said he'd most likely miss because of his prognosis.

His wish was granted Oct. 3 with the help of Team CMMD, a Pennsylvania-based cancer foundation, in what they named "the family wedding."

PHOTO: McHugh fulfilled his dying wish to walk his kids down the aisle.
McHugh fulfilled his dying wish to walk his kids down the aisle.

"The most horrible and emotional thing my wife and I have ever had to do was to tell our children I was dying," Ken blogged on the family's GoFundMe page. "To tell them I wouldn't see them all turn into teenagers, wouldn't see them graduate high school, get married, that I wouldn't walk any of my three beautiful daughters down the aisle or get to hold and spoil any of their children, my grandchildren."

In addition, the McHughs, after being married for 20 years, renewed their vows with the kids serving as witnesses.

PHOTO: Ken McHugh, 47, fulfilled his dying wish to walk his four children down the aisle on October 3.
Ken McHugh, 47, fulfilled his dying wish to walk his four children down the aisle on October 3.

"It was very remarkable," McHugh said in October. "I don’t know if everyone cries when they're renewing their vows, but the both of us sure did."

Ken died Saturday. He was 47.

"Because of you, my life has been a fairytale," McHugh wrote on Facebook the day of her husband's death.

PHOTO: McHugh and his wife of 20 years also renewed their vows for the occasion.
McHugh and his wife of 20 years also renewed their vows for the occasion.

In the end, McHugh said, Ken requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to his children's online educational fund.