Heartbroken dad 'marries dying daughter' after vowing to give her dream wedding

A HEARTBROKEN dad threw a wedding for his dying 16-month-old daughter.

TRAGIC: Andy had always vowed to give his 16-month-old daughter the perfect wedding

RAF hero Andy Barnard had vowed to give his daughter Poppy-Mai the perfect wedding.

But six weeks ago the toddler was given just days to live after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

After Andy's colleagues heard the tragic news they hastily arranged a wedding day for Poppy-Mai so her dad could keep his promise.

A function room was decorated with ribbons and balloons for the toddler.

Poppy-Mai was dressed in her cousin's christening gown as she was escorted to the aisle by her mother Sammi Barnard, 29 and big brothers Rylee, six, and Jenson-Jay, four.

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SUPPORTING: Andy's RAF colleagues heard they hastily arranged a wedding day for Poppy-Mai

SHOCKING: The family were given the harrowing news that their toddler only had two days to live

And the toddler fell asleep in her in her proud father's arms following the ceremony.

Andy, who serves with the RAF 27 squadron regiment, said: "From the moment we found out Poppy-Mai was a girl I've said she'd have the wedding of her dreams one day.

"I never ever thought it would be like this. Our hearts are broken forever, but I wanted to keep my promise to my princess. It wasn't how I imagined, but she got her wedding day."

The Barnard family's world was turned upside down after concerned mum Sammi noticed her daughter had lost her appetite before taking her to the doctor on February 14.

HARROWING: Six weeks ago the family were given the tragic news about Poppy-Mai

HEARTBREAKING: Sammi was told that they suspected her daughter had Wilms

But the family GP diagnosed the issue as a teething problem and prescribed a laxative.

Ten days later Poppy-Mai had not improved, only for another doctor to prescribe a stronger laxative after her parents took her back.

But Sammi became so concerned the following day she took the 16-month-old to the local A&E where she was immediately admitted after she started vomiting.

Doctors initially thought the toddler had Wilms - a form of kidney cancer in children.

But on March 16 doctors found Poppy-Mai had an inoperable brain tumour, giving her just two days to live.

Andy's colleagues arranged for the heartbreaking ceremony to take place on March 18.

Sammi said: "I couldn't stop crying. Being our only daughter, we'd often talked about one day watching her get married.

"She looked so beautiful. But nobody could say the vows that had been written because everyone was crying too much."