Mother's wedding wish for dying son

But 19-year-old Carla Marshall will have mixed emotions when she arrives at St Michael and All Angels Church in Penkridge on Friday.

For in her arms will be her two-year-old son D'shawn who has been given less than six months to live. In a poignant move, the youngster will be 'giving away' his mother in a mock-up wedding because he will not be around when she one day she ties the knot for real.

She said: "I just wanted images of him at my wedding, even though it's fake. I couldn't bear to think of him not being part of my big day, if it ever happens."

The ceremony, which will be performed by vicar Rev Greg Yerbury, is part of a modest bucket list that former student Carla, from Wolverhampton, has drawn up for her son.

Most involve visits to children's theme parks and tourist centres, like ThomasLand at Drayton Manor Park, the Sea Life Centre and the Severn Valley Railway.

Cannock-based disability support charity Dads is helping to turn the wishes into reality, including fixing up the church, a reception venue at the Top of the World banqueting suite in Stafford, wedding outfits and a car, with Carla turning down limousines and a Ferrari for the chance to arrive at the church in a campervan.

But everything rests on D'shawn, who suffers from a number of medical conditions, being well on the day.

The youngster has spent only five days at the family home in Chesterton Road since having a seizure in April, on the day after his second birthday.

Carla said: "It was that that sparked me into action. I've known almost from day one that he wasn't going to live long.

"He seemed like a normal, healthy baby when he was born but he had a respiratory attack when he was two months old and doctors found he'd got all these disabilities."

D'shawn suffers from epilepsy, brain damage, microcephaly, delayed development and partial sight. It means he cannot walk, talk, hold his head up or even grasp toys, and has to be tube fed.

But Carla says he loves Thomas the Tank Engine and cuddles and has the cheekiest personality.

"I'm going to lose my son - it's the worst thing a mother can be told - but I want to made the most of the time we have left together," she said.

Carla will be 'marrying' her best friend-turned-boyfriend, 22-year-old Kyle Matthews.

"It's all a bit weird. Kyle and I have only recently become an item and anyway I'm not ready to get married for real yet.

"But of all the things on the bucket list, this is the one that means the most."