A HEARTBROKEN husband is coming to terms with the devastating loss of his wife and unborn son who both died after the 33-year-old was struck down with breast cancer.

Janine Barker was 18 weeks pregnant with her first child when she began suffering from pains in her hip and was admitted to York Hospital.

Doctors ran tests on the previously healthy and active mum-to-be, of Heworth, and discovered she had advanced cancer in her bone marrow, the secondary effects of breast cancer.

Despite Mrs Barker undergoing immediate chemotherapy treatment, the cancer was too strong to fight off and she passed away on September 3, but not before the couple were able to name their unborn son Bertie Murray Barker.

Paying tribute to his wife, Mr Barker, 32, said: "When we knew we didn't have long we named our son.

"She was a loving and giving person. She was beautiful inside and out."

Mr Barker had recently moved with his wife to Ayrshire, in Scotland, as part of their jobs with Nestle.

The couple, who met in York's Gallery nightclub 11 years ago, lived on Stray Road, in Heworth, and travelled to Scotland every week for work, returning to the city on weekends.

He said: "We both moved to Scotland six months ago and we both loved it.

"This doesn't seem real at the moment. It's a bit surreal but as time goes on you miss somebody more and that's when it's going to kick in.

"As a family we are all in shock but quite humbled by messages we've received."

Mrs Barker joined Nestle straight from Canon Lee School in 1997 and worked in the supply chain.

Mr Barker, 32, added: "We enjoyed cycling and walking together, especially with moving to Scotland, and she had recently got into knitting and used to make presents for people and toys for the children of our friends.

"She preferred to give presents rather than receive them."

He added: "I've got to make the best of this, and I'm sorting things out and going through the will and plans for the funeral."

Mrs Barker is survived by her sister, and her mother and father.

A celebration of Mrs Barker's life will take place at York Crematorium tomorrow, Tuesday, September 16, from 1pm.