THE special care baby unit at Billinge Hospital has received a cheque for £1,250, in memory of a tragic mum who died two months after giving birth at the hospital in Wigan Road.

Pauline Farrell and her husband John, both aged 32, were eagerly looking forward to the birth of their second child when they were dealt a heartbreaking blow.

After having problems swallowing her food and losing weight, tests showed that Pauline was suffering from stomach cancer.

Doctors advised urgent treatment and it was decided to deliver the baby -- originally due in December last year -- early by caesarian section. Little Thomas weighed in at just 3lb 3oz on October 11 and was taken straight to the special care baby unit.

Pauline was later transferred to the Christie, Withington and Wythenshawe hospitals in Manchester for treatment.

In the weeks that followed, Thomas was taken to be with Pauline, by ambulance, on a regular basis.

Sadly, despite a number of operations and treatment, Pauline died at the end of November.

Since then, John, originally from Eccleston, has given up his job as a quantity surveyor, to bring up Thomas and the couple's other son, two-year-old Joseph, at their home in Orrell.

He told the Star: "Thomas' visits to the hospital really lifted his mum's spirits while she was undergoing treatment. And staff at all the hospitals did everything they possibly could for Pauline and the baby. "The level of care, commitment and professionalism of all the nursing staff we dealt with at Billinge was superb. They were all aware of our situation and did everything they possibly could do for me and the family."

And it was this dedication which prompted family and friends to raise money for the special care unit in memory of Pauline. A number of events were staged, with Pauline's former colleagues at the Co-up bank in Skelmersdale and members of the Billinge Football Club making special efforts to boost the final total to £1,250.