My wife, 24, died of cancer that we blamed on ‘pregnancy symptom’ – our daughter keeps asking when Mummy is coming back

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AS Liam and Hannah Tattum exchanged vows, they should have been looking forward to many years of happiness together.

But the young newly-weds knew that their time together was running out.

Tragically, they were married just three weeks before Hannah passed away, just six days after her 24th birthday.

The mum-of-two died of complications from leukaemia treatment.

She was diagnosed with the form of blood cancer shortly after giving birth to the couple’s second child.

Though she experienced symptoms while pregnant – feeling lightheaded and fainting – they both put it down to low iron.

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“I will never get over losing her,” he says.

“We both wanted to get married and I am so glad we made it happen.

“The whole ceremony was organised in just 90 minutes and yet, it was perfect in every way.

“I am so proud to call Hannah my wife.”

Liam and Hannah met in 2020, working at McDonalds.

They moved in together in February 2021 and Hannah fell pregnant with their first child but tragically later miscarried.

Liam says: “The miscarriage was hard but made us realise how much we both wanted to be parents.”

Hannah became pregnant again and in June 2022, Liam proposed on a trip to Tenerife. Their son, Noah, was born the following month.

Liam says: “Hannah was a brilliant mum; she was a natural. We took parenthood in our stride and we took Noah to Amsterdam, Vienna, Milan, Basel, Copenhagen and Barcelona.”

The couple had a second child, Daisy, in April 2024.

Liam says: “The pregnancy went well but towards the end Hannah was becoming lightheaded and fainted a couple of times.

“She’d had low iron previously, so we just blamed her symptoms on pregnancy deficiencies.

What is acute myeloid leukaemia?

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells called granulocytes or monocytes in the bone marrow.

AML is rare. Around 2,700 people are diagnosed with AML in the UK every year.

Symptoms include:

General weakness
Feeling tired
A high temperature
Frequent infections
Bruising or bleeding easily – e.g. nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in your wee or poo
Shortness of breath
Weight loss
Pain in your bones and joints
Feeling full in your tummy
Pale skin

Survival stats:

More than 40 out of 100 people (more than 40%) will survive their leukaemia for one year or more after being diagnosed
More than 20 out of 100 people (more than 20%) will survive their leukaemia for five years or more after being diagnosed

Source: Cancer research UK

“We didn’t for a minute think it was serious. When Daisy came along, we were over the moon. Our little family was complete.”

Hannah’s symptoms continued after Daisy’s birth and, after a bone marrow test, she was diagnosed with AML.

Hannah went through a six-week course of chemotherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester followed by a stem-cell transplant in February 2025.

Liam says: “She was far from home but I managed to stay over at least one night a week and I took the children to visit every week too.

“Our family rallied round to support us.”

Hannah’s health improved after her treatment, and the couple hoped their ordeal was behind them.

But three months on, she became unwell again and was diagnosed with Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD), a complication of the transplant.

GVHD is a serious medical complication where white blood cells from transplanted tissue attack the healthy cells in the recipient’s body.

Liam says: “We knew it was bad, but Hannah was positive. She was determined to get better and to be around for the children.

“That summer went to Lanzarote, and we had a great holiday.”

In January this year, the family was planning a trip to Disneyland Paris when Hannah became very unwell with an infection in her lungs.

Liam says: “Hannah was taken into hospital but she was so focussed on taking the children on holiday that she discharged herself and went to Paris in a wheelchair.

“The trip was really tough for her, but she thought only of the children.”

By June 2026, Hannah was deteriorating quickly.

Liam says: “The disease was in her lungs, and she picked up so many infections, and she was in and out of hospital.

“She broke eight ribs because she was coughing so much.

“We were told she had between three and 12 months to live and we were devastated.

“But still, she refused to give up. She insisted she was going to get better. She couldn’t see any other outcome. Her courage was inspiring.”

In August, Hannah was admitted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital and the couple decided to get married.

Just 90 minutes later, the ceremony took place in the hospital grounds.

Liam says: “Hannah told the hospital chaplain she wanted to get married.

“We’d always planned it, we’d been engaged for four years, but Hannah’s diagnosis had changed everything.

“As soon as Hannah spoke to the chaplain, I got a call from the registrar, and it all happened in an hour and a half.

“My mum, Emma, picked up a cake from Morrisons. Someone else produced a bouquet for Hannah. The staff decorated the garden outside for us.

“My mum, brother and sister were there, along with Hannah’s sister and brother, Eloise and Michael, and our children.

“It was bittersweet but beautiful and I was so happy that we were husband and wife.

“To celebrate afterwards, I went to get Hannah her favourite takeaway, cheesy chips with curry sauce, and we had a couple of hours together in the hospital.”

Hannah managed to return home for ten days, during which she celebrated her 24th birthday.

Liam says: “It was lovely to have her home, as my wife, and to try to enjoy those precious days together.”

But on September 3, Hannah was admitted to hospital with another infection.

Liam and her family were by her side when she passed away on September 8.

Heartbroken, Liam broke the news to their children immediately.

He says: “They knew Mummy was poorly, but they didn’t understand that they might lose her forever.

“They were both upset and crying, but Daisy was too young to take it in.

“Even now, she keeps asking when Mummy is coming back. It hasn’t really hit any of us yet.

“I am trying to plan her funeral whilst still expecting her to send me a text message.”

The family have started a GoFundMe, which will go towards Hannah’s funeral and helping Liam and the children through the difficult months ahead.

“Hannah was a wonderful mum, she was very family-orientated, so kind and caring and putting everyone else before herself,” Liam says.