In Pictures: Brierley Hill teenager marries days before dying

So the brave youngster, who was diagnosed with leukaemia just over a year ago, did just that when he tied the knot with sweetheart Amie Cresswell during an emotional ceremony in hospital.

Just three days after slipping a makeshift wedding ring made of flowers onto her finger, he lost his battle against the disease, leaving his young wife devastated.

The pair had been together for eight months before Amie, who wore a pale pink dress during the emotional ceremony, said 'I do'.

Devoted new bride Amie said: "I'm still absolutely heartbroken.

"Omar wanted to get married before he died and when he proposed I just jumped at the chance.

"We had talked about getting married but never imagined we would be 16. We thought we would grow old together.

"The ceremony was so sad, but really lovely."

Omar, a former Air Cadet and sports lover from Brierley Hill, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia after fainting during a football match in Easter 2014. Because of his mixed Arabic and Romanian heritage, finding a match proved extremely difficult.

By the time stem cells could be found, thanks to an umbilical cord transfer, he was too ill to have the transplant.

After his last round of chemotherapy, on June 14 this year, doctors told him the cancer had got into his bone marrow and he had less than one week left to live.

Amie, who met Omar while the pair were studying at Four Dwellings Academy in Quinton, Birmingham, said she had always wanted to stand by him throughout his illness.

Amie said: "We met while Omar was in remission.

"I'd seen him around school a bit but we just got closer together.

"When he was told it had come back it was just a massive shock.

"I knew I wanted to stand by him through it all.

"He is such a lovely soul – I wanted to spend as much time as I had with him as possible."

Amie said that she 'didn't think twice' about accepting Omar's heartfelt marriage proposal.

The ceremony was arranged in just one day, with family and friends rallying together for the devoted couple.

Amie said: "When Omar told me what the doctors said it just took my breath away. He proposed on the Wednesday and I just didn't think twice.

"We asked our parents, and they both gave us permission.

"Mum told me to do whatever I needed to make him happy.

"Obviously we had to do everything as quickly as possible before he passed away.

"It was only really simple but we had all close family and friends around us which was the most important thing for us.

"I had 10 minutes to get ready in the corridor before we started but she did a great job."

Amie's mother, Becky Cook, who works in a supermarket, said she could see how much the day meant to Omar.

She said: "It was such an emotional evening.

"Obviously it was a really lovely ceremony, but it just came about from such heartbreaking circumstances.

"Omar was such a nice boy and, knowing he didn't have long left to live, I just wanted them to have their big day.

"You could see how much it meant to him. The smile on his face told you that."

The couple had arranged to get married at 10pm at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital but the ceremony was delayed as Omar wanted to pick up a shirt and have a final cooked meal at home with his mum, Mirabela.

Omar used a makeshift ring made of flowers as the emotional Islamic ceremony took place.

Amie said: "He said he wanted the whole world to see him marry me.

"I really wish we had too, but I'm just so glad we had the chance to make this happy memory.

"The doctors had said he had less than seven days to live but he hung on for just over a week.

"I think he just wanted to prove a point and show everyone how strong he was."

Omar died on Monday and, in keeping with his religion, his funeral was held the following day.

Amie added: "It's been a really emotional past 10 days.

"From his last treatment to the funeral, everything has been a whirlwind.

"The funeral service was the perfect send off.

"Everything had been arranged how he wanted it."

A fundraising page has been set up to support for Omar's family. The aim is to raise £3,000.

To donate go to crowdfunding.justgiving.com/jo-khalaf-1