His father added: "He says that I'm his angel that is looking after him here and that his mum will look after him when he is in heaven.
"I don't know how well he remembers his mother, as he was so young when she passed away, but he has visited her grave when he was well enough to speak to her.
"This is just a very stressful and distressing time for all of us. I did not imagine that I would have to bury my child... you should go before your child."