The young daughter of a "lovely dad and husband" says she misses her daddy every morning and every night after he tragically died.
The ECHO previously reported that Kieran Taylor was born with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) - a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along the nerves in the body. During a routine check-up last month, doctors discovered Kieran had an NF1 tumour pressing on his abdominal gland.
But just two days later, on July 11, the dad-of-three felt unwell and was rushed to hospital. After leaving hospital, the 32-year-old was found unresponsive in his garden after becoming confused. Sadly, the family later made the heart-breaking decision to switch off his life support machine.
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NF1 varies from person to person but while the tumours are typically non-cancerous, they can be fatal. NF1, which is caused by a faulty gene, can cause tumours, problems with bones, eyes and nervous systems.
Tributes have come pouring in for the Preston-born dad, who was living in Walton. Gerry Collo said: "RIP Kieran, please God watch over this lovely family", as Diane McDonald wrote: "This is so very sad, God love them all."
Ann Riley added: "Thinking of you all. So sorry for your the loss of your lovely dad and husband."
The couple struggled to explain Kieran's illness to their children, who saw their dad collapsed in the garden. Wife Donna said: "The kids saw him lying there but they thought he was sunbathing because that is what he always did. I had to stand to the side of Kieran and tell them to go straight in.
"I told [Willow] 'the lump in daddy's stomach was why he was so poorly,' she just looked at me so I don't know if she understands. Every morning and night she says to me 'I miss my daddy'."
ECHO reader Jo Whittle added: "My heart breaks for you all. RIP Kieran" as Laura Kennedy echoed: "Omg so sad, heart-breaking." Nichholas Powell wrote: "It's not fair my family are the same keep going up to be checked, my sister is going for operation very soon, all the best. Ps sorry for your loss."
Kieran's wife Donna, 35, said two of his children - Willow and Blake - also have the NF1 condition. Blake, five, was diagnosed when he was just five months old after "café au lait spots" appeared on his body. These are coffee-coloured marks which are usually the first symptom of NF1.
Blake, who was born at 30 weeks, struggles with change and has a "meltdown" if his routine changes. He also struggles with physical tasks such as riding a bike but excels mentally and needs help with his movement as he cannot dress himself. With a curve in his spine, he is also showing signs of autism but has not yet had a formal diagnosis.
Willow's first symptom was when she was eight months old and café au lait spots began to appear on her body. When she was nearly two her left eye dropped and the now-four-year-old was diagnosed with a benign optic tumour. She has to wear glasses and soon will have to wear a patch on her right eye.
Charity Director for Nerve Tumours UK Karen Cockburn said there are 26,500 children and adults living in the UK, who are diagnosed with the condition but many medical professionals have not heard of Neurofibromatosis.
She added: "Approximately 25,000 of the community are diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). It can cause tumours on the optic nerves, which severely restrict sight or cause blindness; curvature of the spine; large benign tumours which can result in mobility and speech problems; malformation of the long bones below the elbow and knee, that affect children’s leg development and often results in operations or amputations; and over 60% of NF1 patients have learning difficulties. People live in constant pain, are vulnerable and often isolated."
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