Karen Pattison, 32 – who had already survived breast cancer – died in Hull Royal Infirmary, just 12 days after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Surgeons delivered baby daughter Sarah-Jane 12 weeks early by Caesarean on December 18. She weighed just 2lb 12oz.

On Monday her father John, 32, was told their baby girl – who he calls his gift from Karen – had been moved from critical care to the hospital's special care baby unit.

"It was really good news. I look on Sarah-Jane as Karen's gift.

"It all happened so quickly. She was so strong and so courageous, especially after everything she had been through," said John, who with the couple's two other children – Charlotte, four, and Scarlette, 19 months – last saw Karen on Boxing Day, the day before she died.

"Christmas just did not happen. Karen had recovered from breast cancer which started just after Charlotte was born.

"She went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was still taking drugs when she fell pregnant with Scarlette, so that had to stop, but everything was going well.

"We even managed to get two weeks' holiday in Tenerife in 2007," said John.

But just a few weeks ago Karen started feeling unwell and on December 15 doctors found the cancer had returned in an aggressive form and was attacking her liver.

On December 18, as her condition worsened, Karen had the emergency Caesarean to save her unborn baby. She died on December 27.

"I do not know if she knew how seriously ill she was. I think she did and kept it to herself to protect me and the children.

"She was so brave," said John, who has now given up his job as a night porter at the Monarch Hotel to become full-time dad to his young family.

"I have my family around to help and we have a lot of friends," said John, of Roundhay Road, Bridlington, who had worked at Adrian Williams DIY in Marshall Avenue until it closed down in November.

"Charlotte is already missing her mum, but I don't think Scarlette knows what has happened.

"Karen was able to be with Sarah-Jane for a little while. I hope she will be all right.

"The fact she is out of critical care is really good," said John, who registered the new birth on Monday.

He and Karen had been together for seven years and married four-and-a-half years ago.

Karen's funeral is at 3pm today at Octon Crematorium – three weeks since baby Sarah-Jane was born.