Jean Richardson reassured daughter Karen that she would take care of little Abigail Ledsham as she whispered her last words in the early hours of January 11.

Devastated Karen, 37, told the St Helens Reporter that her mum had "never been the same" since Abigail lost her brave battle with ultra-rare Sandhoff's Disease in 2008 – just five days before her second birthday.

She said: "My mum was totally heartbroken when Abigail passed away and never really recovered. Just before they sedated her in hospital, mum said she'd make sure she looked after Abigail. That meant the world to us all.

"I can't get my head around it. Life is so unfair. I don't know how I'm going to manage without mum in my life. She was always there for me and helped me get through the heartache of losing Abigail. I need her now more than ever. We even named Abigail after my mum – her middle name was Jean."

Jean, who was on medication for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's Disease, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Sunday, January 10, with severe pancreatitis.

Despite being sedated in intensive care the following morning, she suffered multi organ failure and tragically died.

Jean was buried in the same plot as Abigail at St Mark's Church in Haydock last week.

Since Abigail died in October 2008, Jean had supported Paul and Karen Ledsham's tireless campaign to raise £8,000 to buy a special medical vest to help other toddlers struck down with the same incurable degenerative illness.

Poignantly, the generous donations made to Abigail's appeal by mourners at Jean's funeral finally tipped the fund-raising drive over the £8,000 target and enabled Karen to buy a brand new Vest.

Karen, of Liverpool Road, Haydock, added: "We received more than £700 for the Abigail Fund at mum's funeral and have been able to buy a new Vest. Mum would have been thrilled to know that we'd reached the goal and will now be able to help another child like Abigail."