Dad ‘marries’ daughter, 1, as she has just days to live... because he always vowed to give her a dream wedding

THIS is the poignant moment a devastated father ‘married’ his tiny daughter after being told that she had just two days to live. 

Dad Andy Barnard, 31, had always vowed that one day his only daughter would have the wedding of her dreams. 

However, in a cruel twist of fate, his beloved Poppy-Mai, 16-months, was diagnosed with a rare and fatal brain tumour – and given just TWO days to live. 

In light of the bleak prognosis, Andy’s RAF colleagues hastily arranged a ‘wedding’ day for Poppy-Mai and the beautiful little bride was ‘married’ to her hero father.

Little Poppy-Mai was escorted to the aisle by her mother Sammi Barnard, 29 and big brothers Rylee, six and Jenson–Jay, four. 

Little Poppy-Mai was escorted to the aisle by her mother Sammi Barnard, 29 and big brothers Rylee, six and Jenson–Jay, four www.photo-features.co.uk¿

Andy said: “From the moment we found out Poppy-Mai was a girl I’ve said she’d have the wedding of her dreams one day. 

“I never ever thought it would be like this. Our hearts are broken forever, but I wanted to keep my promise to my princess. It wasn’t how I imagined, but she got her wedding day.”

It was a mere six weeks ago that the Bernard family had their world completely turned upside down. 

On February 14 Poppy-Mai’s mum Sammi took her daughter to the doctors. The usually playful tot had gone off her food and drink and was constipated with a distended tummy. 

Sammi had also noticed that the toddler seemed off balance. 

Andy’s RAF colleagues hastily arranged a ‘wedding’ day for Poppy-Mai and the beautiful little bride was ‘married’ to her hero father www.photo-features.co.uk¿

After visiting their GP, the little girl’s symptoms were put down to teething and she was prescribed a laxative. 

But Poppy-Mai soon grew worse and Sammi noticed a lump appear under her rib cage. 

Now refusing all food and drink and unwilling to walk, Sammi took her back to the doctor ten days later. 

This time, a different doctor prescribed her daughter a stronger laxative. 

By the following afternoon Sammi had become increasingly concerned and drove her daughter to their local A&E. 

The toddler, who had now started vomiting, was immediately admitted as medics battled to stabilise her. 

After visiting their GP, the little girl’s symptoms were put down to teething and she was prescribed a laxative www.photo-features.co.uk¿

Sammi said: “Her calcium levels were way too high and they had to address that first before they could start to work out what was wrong. 

“At the worst I thought she maybe had a really bad infection."

Sammi’s father was serving with his squadron in America so was kept informed over the phone. 

However, it wasn’t good news and later that day an ultrasound revealed what appeared to be a mass in her stomach.

Culled from UK Sun