A tragic mother given six months to live killed her five-year-old son then took her own life because she could not bear to be without him, it was revealed yesterday.
Cancer sufferer Emma Hart, 27, is thought to have laid down beside little Lewis Dangerfield on his bed and fed him a deadly drug until she was sure he had slipped away.
Minutes later, she walked to her mother's house and slashed her wrists.
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Tragic: Emma Hart is believed to have given her son, Lewis, a lethal dose of morphine. She'd been using the drug to cope with the pain her cancer caused her.
Last night Lewis's grief-stricken father told of his disbelief that his former partner had resorted to such drastic action against his "extremely special little boy" just two weeks before Christmas.
The football-mad youngster's presents had been bought but will now remain unopened as his family continue to mourn his death on December 25.
Shaun Dangerfield, 26, who had split up with Miss Hart but maintained a close relationship with their only child Lewis, said: "He did nothing but make us smile.
"He has a room full of robots and transformers ready for him this Christmas.
"I cannot explain what has been taken away from me, mine and Lewis' family. It can only be described as devastating."
Police discovered the bodies at the separate addresses in Tipton,
West Midlands, just after 7pm on Sunday. They are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Post-mortem examination results have revealed Miss Hart died of haemorrhaging.
But pathologists were unable to confirm the cause of death for Lewis and further toxicology tests have been ordered.
He is thought to have been given a drugs overdose.
Yesterday a friend told how Miss Hart was battling stomach cancer and had been told during a recent hospital visit that she had only six months to live.
The prognosis drove her to despair and she became increasingly withdrawn.
Then on Sunday night, according to her friend, she took Lewis up to his room at their terraced home and poisoned him with the morphine she was using to combat pain from the cancer.
Miss Hart is thought to have then walked to her mother's maisonette half a mile away and cut her wrists with a razor.
The friend, who grew up with Miss Hart, did not want to be named for fear of angering the family but said she wanted to "set the record straight".
She said: "Emma had stomach cancer and was given 16 months to live but was then taken poorly and was given only six months to live.
"This news absolutely terrified her and she didn't know what to do.
"From what I gather, Emma laid in her son's bed next to him while she overdosed him with something. I think it could've been the morphine she was taking for her cancer.
"But then apparently she left him alone and went to her mum's where she slashed her wrists.
"It's terrible but I just want to set the record straight because a lot of people are saying 'How could she have killed her own son?' but she just wanted to be with him.
"She adored Lewis and I guess she didn't want to be apart from him - even in death. I think that's why she did it.
"Emma was a lovely girl, really outgoing and bubbly. The way things have turned out is just so tragic."
In a statement, released through West Midlands Police, Miss Hart's family, including her parents Lynn and Paul Hart, said: "We are devastated at the loss of our daughter and grandson. Emma was a loving daughter, sister and mom."
Lewis's father Mr Dangerfield, also of Tipton, added in a statement: "Lewis would have been six years old this February. He was into the same things as most kids his age.
"We would like our own private time to mourn the loss of such an amazing and extremely special little boy."
Referring to Lewis's support for West Bromwich Albion football club, he added: "Up the Baggies little man, we miss you so much."
Yesterday, as flowers and other tributes, including a teddy bear with the message "God Bless you", were mounting up outside Miss Hart's council house, neighbours told of their horror at the deaths.
Catherine Ashfield, 23, said: "It's quite scary. I've got a ten-month-old son and it is a shock to hear that a mother could have done something like this."
Another neighbour said: "Emma moved in about nine months ago. She was friendly but then started losing a lot of weight and I hadn't seen her for a few weeks."
Another said: "As far as I know it was just her and the little boy. She was just really quiet and shy."
Lewis was a pupil at Great Bridge Primary School. Headteacher Liz Regan said: "The whole school is deeply shocked. Lewis always appeared very happy. He will be very much missed by everyone at the school." Detective Inspector Simon Astle, of West Midlands Police, said: "This is an extremely tragic incident. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims."
Cancer mother - given six months to live - kills 5-year-old son before taking her own life | the Daily Mail
Cancer mother - given six months to live -kills 5-year-old son before killing herself
- Twitchy2.0
whatta cutie he was too 
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