A TWO-year-old boy who doctors said would not live beyond six months has died.

Jack Murphy, of Bradley, suffered up to 40 seizures a day after being diagnosed with Menkes Syndrome at just eight weeks old.

Due to his mother’s learning difficulties Jack has been cared for since birth by his aunt Becky Howe and her partner.

Becky, 33, of Bradley, said: “We always knew Jack’s condition was terminal but now he has gone it has left a gaping hole in our family which will never be filled.”

Becky, who also has two of her own children, said Jack took a turn for the worse on his second birthday last month but managed to fight off the infection.

It wasn’t until weeks later when Becky woke during the night that he passed away in her arms.

Becky said: “I was sitting cuddling him as usual the night before, and I don’t know why, but I said to him ‘If you want to go Jack, we will miss you, but I don’t want you to struggle’.

“It was not something I had ever said before and he had not been particularly ill that day so when he stopped breathing in my arms in the early hours it was still a shock.”

She added: “He looked so beautiful like he was sleeping.”

Becky and his family have found strength to cope with his death from the joy Jack brought to their lives in his short life.

Speaking of his condition she said: “He couldn’t smile but he could respond to our voices and he had his own personality. He loved his cuddles and to play in the bath. He has touched us in so many ways.”

To help cope with the demands of a terminally ill child Jack’s family has been supported by The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Becky said: “The hospice has been brilliant. They supported us all the way and are still supporting us. They had asked Jack to hand over the keys to the new children’s hospice in Brackenhall but he passed away in the early hours.

“Although we were deeply upset we went as a family because we wanted to do it for Jack.”

Jack’s funeral will be held at St Thomas’ Church, Bradley on Monday at 11am, followed by a wake at Woodland Glade, Redwood Drive.

His coffin will be taken to the church by horse drawn carriage.

Mourners are asked to wear bright coloured clothes.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to The Forget Me Not Trust.

To donate to The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice go to http://www.forgetmenottrust.co.uk/fundraising/donate/online or in person at one of the five shops in Lindley, Brighouse, Holmfirth, King Cross and Heckmondwike.