A Trowbridge mum who chose not to undergo treatment for an aggressive form of bone cancer so she could continue her pregnancy has died, just three-and-a-half months after the birth of her daughter.

Kate Coles, 30, whose courageous battle against the aggressive cancer osteosarcoma captured the hearts of people across west Wiltshire, died at Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley at 4.15am on Friday.

Her husband Matt Coles, 34, of St John’s Crescent, paid a loving tribute to his wife, who he described as having a bubbly and outgoing personality that lives on in their daughter Izabelle.

“Izzy is just like Kate, she already looks like her and has her personality. She even flinches in her sleep like Kate did,” he said.

“She is a part of Kate here. Kate will always be remembered for who she was, but she lives on in Izzy and I will make sure she knows all about her mum and also make sure she is surrounded by family and friends so she has their perspective on what Kate was like too.

“I think people become withdrawn when something like this happens, but I want to make sure things carry on as normal and people still come round to see us as much as they would have.

“People stop me and say ‘I wouldn’t cope if I was in your situation, you are doing so well’, but I tell them that you have to cope and you would.

“Kate faced things head-on and she always thought that if there was one person, just one person, that she could help through something like what she was going through, then that made her happy.”

Mrs Coles was first diagnosed with cancer in her jawbone just a week after returning from her honeymoon in August 2007.

She underwent an operation to remove a cancerous lump along with six months of the most intensive form of chemotherapy.

Soon after the couple’s first wedding anniversary, they were overjoyed to discover Mrs Coles was pregnant. Then doctors found another cancerous lump.

In order to resume her treatment, Mrs Coles gave birth to 3lb 3oz Izabelle Summer Florence Coles nine weeks early by Caesarean section. She then learned her cancer had spread to two other places.

Mrs Coles planned for her daughter’s future, and bought cards and presents to mark special occasions in Izabelle’s life, including birthdays, anniversaries and even her engagement and wedding days.

Mrs Coles’ family paid tribute to her courage this week. Her mother Shirley Martin said: “She was just a special, considerate, loving, wonderful person. She always thought about others before herself.” Her grandmother Winifred Crew said she was a special and much loved granddaughter who will be greatly missed.

Mr Coles, who works for Wessex Water, praised staff at Dorothy House, where his wife spent her last three weeks. He said: “They were fantastic. They helped not only when Kate was staying there, but also before when she was still at home.”

Ruth Gretton, sister-in-charge of the inpatient unit, said: “Kate was a very brave lady and it was a privilege to be involved in her care.”

Mrs Coles’ funeral will be held at 3.15pm on Monday at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington.

Before she died Mrs Coles asked that mourners wear purple to the service.