He continued: 'We’re never going to give her the label of mummy, but Rachael was very keen he’d have that kind of influence and figure in his life. It wasn’t as specific as, ‘You must go and meet someone’, it was just, ‘Be happy’, whatever that means.

Now her widower, Steve speaking to The Sun , says that Rachael blamed herself for the onset of her condition: “From day one, she believed she had caused it by drinking too much when she was younger. So when you can, try and delve back into your memories, Freddie, and picture Mummy laying face-to-face with you on the bed, tickling your arms and telling you how very very much I love you. He revealed he broke down in tears after Bland passed away and their son Freddie told him: “Daddy, don’t worry, it’s just us two now. You were 14 months old and at the very start I was so full of fierce intention that we could get past this. Shortly afterwards she made the brave decision to share her story, and she spoke with beautiful poignancy through her blog and podcast, You, Me and the Big C .He said if they had realised the difficulty, Bland may have opted to go to a hospice rather than staying at home. Rachael adored Freddie and we spoke a lot about how tough it was for her to know she wasn’t going to see him ride a bike, or in his proper school uniform. As the festive season rolls around, workplaces face the challenge of balancing productivity and holiday cheer. Speaking to podcast hosts Lauren Mahon and Deborah James, Mr Bland said: “There have been occasions where I’ve lost my temper with him and I know I wouldn’t have done in normal circumstances. As this is directly written for Freddie, it sometimes felt like I shouldn't be reading it, like I was reading someones very personal letters and notes.

I’d love it if people could look at us and see that it’s possible to come out the other side and be happy again and live a full life again,” Steve says, who is expecting twins with his new wife Amy, who he met a year after Rachael died.

It will be an amazing source of comfort for Freddie in his future years as her love for him and all her family shines through every page. Rachael Bland (née Hodges), was a Welsh journalist, best known for presenting news on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 1's North West Tonight . Mr Bland said the “media storm” around his wife’s death was “very difficult” while also “comforting”, adding the Bland who appeared on television was not the same person “who sat next to me on the sofa watching crappy TV”. I want to enjoy life and provide Freddie with the best life possible, and that’s all people want to do.