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'I love her so much': AFL star Jeremy Finlayson gives tearful post-game tribute to terminally ill wife Kellie

Kellie was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her bowel in November 2021 after suffering symptoms she assumed were side effects of pregnancy

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA: Jeremy Finlayson paid an emotional tribute to his terminally ill wife Kellie after helping Port Adelaide win over Sydney. The 27-year-old AFL star reportedly kicked three goals for his side on Saturday night, April 8.

Kellie, also 27, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her bowel in November 2021 after suffering painful symptoms that she initially assumed were side effects of her pregnancy with baby daughter Sophia. A colonoscopy after the birth discovered the tennis-ball-sized mass and despite a year of intense treatment, a CT scan revealed the cancer had metastasized and spread to her lungs.

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'I love her so much'

Jeremy fought back tears as he spoke about the love of his life who is battling Stage 4 cancer. "I hope she's watching. I love her so much," he said on Channel 7. "This is just a reward of sticking tough and doing it for Kell and Soph back home. I’m happy to be out here playing footy and doing what I love," he added.

'Hardest pill to swallow'

As Kellie is receiving treatment on the Gold Coast, her husband noted that the disease "100 percent robbed" her of her first year of motherhood with Sophia. However, that wasn't her biggest hurdle. "I've gone into early menopause. Whether I can come back from that, I don't know," Kellie told the Life Uncut podcast this week. "That was honestly my biggest struggle, knowing that I may not give Sophia any siblings, which is so hard. We had always planned to have a big family. It's just something that I always wanted. It was the hardest pill to swallow out of all the pills I've swallowed in the last 18 months. We've kind of come to terms with it knowing how many options we do have." Jeremy explained how adoption was no longer a possibility due to her terminal diagnosis, which meant "no one is going to give me a child."

The adorable pair tied the knot last month after their nuptials were postponed in October due to her cancer diagnosis. "I wanted to get married with my hair and I have started losing hair," Kellie told the Adelaide Advertiser, adding that she wanted her wedding to be a quiet affair and a "surprise for everyone but our bridal party and family and friends attending." The private event was planned in just three weeks, with help from the bridal party and Kellie's modeling agency, The Models.

Kellie told Daily Mail Australia she hoped her experiences would make others more diligent about immediately seeking medical help if they suffer pain, especially since bowel cancer is occurring more frequently in young couples nowadays. "It's not just an old person's disease," she insisted, adding, "A lot of people also don't realize or know about the cost of medical expenses. Luckily I had health insurance and went through a private hospital. We spent around $150,000, and only $50,000 was covered by Medicare. But you have no choice but to pay it when your life is on the line." A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to cover Kellie's medical expenses.