Pat was so weak up his hip broke.

Widow calls for introduction of tests to spot genetic disorder after husband dies at 52

the beginning of her husband’s health difficulties.

“The day after, when I picked him up, he said we needed to have a chat. It was serious,” said Lorraine.

“The doctor had noticed Pat had an enlarged liver, so referred him to a specialist.

“The next thing we heard was two months later when we were on holiday in Majorca.

“Pat’s consultant called to say the results of his blood tests were quite alarming. Ferritin levels are typically between 50 and 100 – but Pat’s were at 8,000.”

Pat had haemochromatosis, which can be treated by venesection.

The plan was regular blood removal until the levels decreased – but a few weeks later, his ferritin levels had shot up to 10,000.

In November 2017, Pat was diagnosed with primary liver cancer.

“There was no cure, no treatment...it was the worst-case scenario,” said Lorraine.

“It was like the world just caved in on us.

“We were brokenhearted.

“But I have never known a braver person.

“Pat never allowed himself to feel down about it.

“His attitude was just to take each day at a time and deal with whatever it threw at him over the next few months.

“The cancer went into his bones and they got so weak. One day he stood up and his hip broke.

“They weren’t sure about a hip replacement op because there was a risk of losing him during surgery, but they went with it. Thankfully he got home after a week in hospital – but he passed away four days later.”

Gran-of-two Lorraine, 49,