“I am devastated”: Ines (43), who recently lost her husband, loses her wedding ring in Antwerp | Antwerp

Ines Geudens (43) from Putte (Heist-op-den-Berg) has had a very tough few months. Last summer, her husband Steve De Doncker (45) died after a courageous fight against cancer. “In April 2017, a spot was found on Steve’s skin. Evil, it turned out. The melanoma was removed, but a year and a half later a spot was found again,” says Ines.

Since then, Steve’s health has gone from bad to worse. “At the end of 2020, Steve had metastases in the lymph node of his groin,” Ines continues. “It was then decided to start immunotherapy. But in the spring of last year, Steve suddenly developed a severe headache and tinnitus. The scan indicated metastases in the brain. Steve passed away on August 31.”

So the death was not entirely unexpected. Still, Ines and Steve decided to tie the knot six days before his death. And – of course – there was a beautiful ring with an engraving of their names on the inside.

Unfortunately, Ines has lost the ring, which reminds her of her late husband every day, since Friday evening. She’s in the heart of it. “Together with our 15-year-old daughter – an avid dancer – I went to see a dance performance at the Arenbergschouwburg. My daughter was already in town and I came to Antwerp by train. Via the De Keyserlei, Kipdorvest and Hopland we hurried to the Balls & Glory restaurant on the Theaterplein, where we would first have a bite to eat.”

It wasn’t until later in the evening that Ines noticed she was no longer wearing the wedding ring. “In a photo we took at Balls & Glory, I don’t have the ring on anymore. So I must have lost it somewhere on the Central Station – Theaterplein route. I must admit, we were in a bit of a rush. The ring was also no longer so tight on my finger. I have lost a lot of weight in recent months due to the grief over the death of my husband. I’m devastated. Friday was the first time I came out after Steve’s death.”

Ines realizes that the chances are small. Still, she secretly hopes that someone will find her ring and return it. “Steve never got to see the ring let alone wear it. We had ordered it online, but unfortunately it only arrived after his death. Yet it has enormous emotional value for me. I really hope someone finds him.”

Anyone who finds the ring can bring the jewelry to the police or send a message to Ines via Facebook.