Daniel passed away on Thursday 6 May from cancer after a difficult final few weeks. He was just 39 years old. He was diagnosed in January 2009 after having investigations for some weeks into a painful knee and hip - as it turned out due to secondary cancer in his bones originating from a tumour in his lungs. At the time of diagnosis he was told his illness was terminal.

Daniel went through 13 months of chemotherapy to prolong his life and improve his quality of life. It was frequently tough for him but we can also say we had a wonderful year together as a family, making the most of every good day. Amazingly, it was in many ways our most wonderful year together as we saw the arrival of our miracle baby girl, Thea Jemimah, now 6 months old, a beautiful sister for our wonderful son, Zachary, aged 2. Daniel adored both of his children and in his final 6 months gave as much to them as he could, even if just reading stories or lying on the bed with Thea. Both Zach and Thea are so like him in many ways and he will live on through them for the rest of their lives, even though they will not remember him.

Cancer has touched our family in the most painful way imaginable and we will all miss Dan more than we can ever express and I as his wife am completely heartbroken. But neither of us would say that cancer had ruined our lives, only that it made us appreciate all the more how much you can love each other, how much you should be grateful for blessings even in bad times, especially your children, and how the love, encouragement and prayers of family and friends can get you through the most difficult days.

We would be so grateful for any donation to Children with Leukaemia in Daniel's memory.

With love and thanks

Jo and all the family