A BRAVE cancer sufferer was able to cradle his first grandson only days before his death – because the baby obliged by arriving three weeks early.

Kevin Joy, 39, cried as he held his grandchild, Kyron Bennett-Joy, the son of his daughter, Sherridan, 16.

Kevin died 15 days later, after a six-year battle against lung cancer which spread to his brain.

His wife, Shelly, 41, said her husband had clung to life to meet his grandson.

She said: "Kevin was over the moon when he found out he was going to be a granddad.

"He has four daughters so, when he found out the baby was going to be a boy, he was really happy.

"He cried his eyes out when he held him – it was such a special moment."

Kevin was 33 when the cancer was diagnosed and found out the day before his 39th birthday that it had spread to his brain.

Despite an operation and several courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he died at his home in Seascale Close, Derby.

Kyron was due to be born at the Royal Derby Hospital on Thursday, July 22, but arrived on Friday, July 2. Kevin died on Saturday, July 17.

Shelly said Kevin was delighted that their grandson was given a double-barrelled surname.

She said: "He knew it was someone to carry on the family name and that's why he was given that surname.

"Kevin loved his family and so was so loving, caring and protective of us."

The family was devastated when he was diagnosed with lung cancer at such a young age.

Two weeks after the diagnosis, Kevin had an operation to remove half of one of his lungs.

But in April this year, after he blacked out at the wheel of his car, he was told the cancer had spread to his brain.

Shelly, pregnant daughter Sherridan and youngest child Kacey, seven, were passengers in the car, but no-one was hurt in the accident.

Doctors gave Kevin several scans before confirming the cancer had spread to his brain.

Shelly said of the accident: "It was such a strange incident because Kevin was always a really good driver.

"He put on such a brave face and continued to fight after the diagnosis but he really went downhill from there.

"We went out for dinner on his birthday the next day and we had such a good time.

"He never gave up."

Born in Derby in 1971, Kevin attended Roe Farm Infants' and Junior Schools, now known as Roe Farm Primary, and later went to Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden.

At the age of 18, he joined Ellison Metal Products, based in Darley Abbey, but was made redundant several years later.

He then worked as a labourer for about two years and was later taken on by print firm BemroseBooth as a machine operator.

Kevin decided to take redundancy because of the treatment he was undergoing for his illness.

Shelly said: "He would feel poorly on and off. He wanted to try and get back into work but he just couldn't.

"Some days he really wanted to get out of bed and take us all to dinner but we just had to tell him that he wasn't well enough.

"But he always managed to smile."

Kevin met Shelly more than 20 years ago and they were married at St Mark's Church, in Chaddesden, in September 1991.

They had four daughters – Nadine, 23, Danielle, 19, Sherridan and Kacey, seven. Kevin is also survived by his parents, Dave and Jackie, and sister Julie.

Nadine said her father was a dedicated Derby County fan and enjoyed fishing and family holidays. She said: "He was such a brilliant, loving and caring father and we miss him so much."

His funeral was at Markeaton Crematorium on Thursday.