HALEY Taylor’s dying wish was that her children would stay together and grow up as a family.

The 27-year-old mum-of-three passed away last week after losing a courageous year-long fight against cervical cancer.

Her dad Arthur said he was determined to take custody of Leon Nixon, nine, Reece Nixon, seven, and 18-month-old TJ following her death.

Her partner Tim Nixon, the father of two of her children, also passed away a couple of years ago.

Arthur said the youngsters had been his daughter’s ‘world’.

The 57-year-old, of Avon Close, Blackburn, said: “She asked me to take the three kids and not split them up.

“She said she would haunt me if I didn’t.

“I just worry that I won’t last long enough. I don’t want them to be on their own.”

Doctors first discovered Haley had a large tumour 12 months ago.

She had chemotherapy treatment and was told the tumour had begun to shrink.

But on Christmas Eve, following complaints of pains in her lower back, doctors reviewed a scan and found the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

Her family have been left devastated by her death, but described the former Witton Park High School pupil as a ‘fighter’ with a ‘big heart’ who ‘would always think of others first’.

Arthur said Haley fought against her illness right up to her death.

He said that despite the poor prognosis all she had wanted was a couple of years to ‘sort out her children’.

He said: “Haley was a fighter. We were told to go to the hospice on Wednesday but she revived and kept going until Friday. All of the nurses were shocked that she was still here.

“She was in massive pain but she would always be thinking of others.

“When she was diagnosed with cancer she still got up and carried on.

“She was in tremendous pain but she kept on going.

“Even though she had cancer, all she wanted was a couple of years with the children to make sure they were sorted out.

“It was always about the kids.”

Arthur said the family was now trying to cope with Haley’s death.

He said: “The kids are ignoring it. It’s like it’s not happened. That is the way they are dealing with it I think.

“And the baby knows no different.”

Haley, who attended Longshaw Infant and Junior School, where her two older sons are currently pupils, was admitted to East Lancashire Hospice five weeks ago.

Before then she had moved in with her father who began looking after her three children while she received treatment.

Haley’s mum Lorraine Watson died 14 years ago and she began looking after her brother Alex.

Her partner Tim Nixon, the father of two of her children, also passed away a couple of years ago.

Arthur said: “Haley was bubbly, outgoing, loved socialising and took everything head on.

“She had a heart as big as you’ve ever known.

“If you met her once, she would always be your friend for life. She looked out for anybody and always put other people before her.

“She was given false hopes initially that the treatments working and if you have children you need to know what the situation is.

“She had something about her for someone of 27 to go through that. She was always more bothered about the children.”

Haley’s funeral takes place on Tuesday(June14) at Pleasington Crematorium at 1.30pm.