LITTLE Lauryn Mac-auley is just five years old and believes her mummy is a star in heaven.

For dad Christopher Macauley, 30, this understanding of her mother's death is truly heartbreaking.

His partner of nine years, Theresa Evans, died last Tuesday at Cardiff's Velindre Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer, and now he has to help little Lauryn and brother Triston, aged eight, understand what has happened.

Christopher says: "When I told Lauryn that her mummy had died she was hysterical at first. But she's ok now - she knows her mummy is a star in heaven. "Triston accepted it, he's strong. They both are. Lauryn's already starting to act like her mum sometimes."

Speaking from her home in Morgan Street, Newport, Theresa's mother, Julia Booth, 46, said her daughter was an inspiration to others throughout her long illness.

"She was so strong about it," said Julia. "There was a little room in Velindre where she would go and sometimes talk to other patients. They would call it 'Theresa's therapy room' because she had a way of making people feel much better about their illness.

Once a doctor said, 'I have got to thank you, Theresa, you've made my patients feel a lot better.'"

Last year, Theresa organised a 12-mile charity walk from Monmouth to Tintern for Velindre and 130 people raised £5,000.

Theresa was diagnosed with breast cancer which spread through her body to other organs and even her bones.

"Before Christmas, she developed a brain tumour. I used to break my heart about it," said Julia.

"I would come home and bawl my eyes out, but since she died a big weight has been lifted, because she was in so much pain.

"There hasn't been too much crying - we're all just remembering what a wonderful person she was."

Christopher said: "Theresa knew she was going to die, and accepted that, but she never worried about the children."

"She knew that they would be taken care of and have a good future with me.

"It was me and her mam she was worried about, and how we would cope. But we are ok. We've got to be strong for the children.

"There's so much family to care for and to embrace and Theresa will still be a part of their lives."

Anna Coffey, 26, Theresa's friend, added that she will always miss her "best mate" of 13 years.

* Former Liswerry High School pupil and keen amateur actress Theresa had auditioned for a role in the BBC Wales soap opera, Tiger Bay, for the part eventually taken by Jan Anderson.

Jan sent Theresa, who moved from Newport to Splott, Cardiff, when she set up home with Christopher, a get well card when she found out she was in Velindre.

Theresa's funeral will be held at 2pm tomorrow at St John's Church, Newport, before a cremation.

Her funeral cortege will pass over Newport Transporter Bridge at 1.30pm - something Theresa had always wanted to do but never got around to.

* In the picture: Cancer victim Theresa Evans with children Lauryn and Triston.