The distraught family of a mum-of-three are raising money for her funeral - after she was given just two months to live.

Stacey Jervis, 33, who lives in Herne Bay, is terminally ill with an extremely rare form of lupus as well as bone cancer.

Her step-mum, Lisa Wyatt Jervis, 40, says the family are struggling to come to terms with the tragic prognosis.

“We knew that Stacey was ill but we just thought she would live forever because she fights so hard," she said.

“So not even Stacey has put any money aside for a funeral and now we’re being told that our 33-year-old daughter is going to die in two months. None of us are in a financial position to pay for the whole thing.

"When we spoke to Stacey and we asked her if she is scared she said ‘I’m not scared of dying, I’m scared of leaving my kids. I’m worried they’ve got nothing, nothing to show for our life together'."

Having accidentally fallen pregnant at 15, Stacey's medical troubles began shortly after the birth of her third child, Wade, now nine-years-old.

Her family say doctors eventually discovered she has the UK's rarest form of autoimmune disease lupus.

“The hospital asked her whether they could use her to help other people - other patients that are in the same situation - because they’re never seen a case of lupus that is as bad as Stacey's," said Lisa.

“They have been treating her with trial drugs like chemotherapy and all sorts and use her case to train other doctors and nurses.

“Wade is so proud of her. He’s said she’s a superhero because her lupus is helping to save others.

"But he’s also very upset. He doesn’t understand why it’s his mum that this is happening to.”

Since Stacey's health problems began in 2014, dialysis treatments have taken up much of her time and kept her from enjoying a normal life with her children.

Despite the tragic circumstances, her dad, David Jervis, says she has remained strong.

“No matter what pain she is in, she always smiles and says ‘I'm okay don’t worry about me’,” David, from Canterbury, writes on the Gofundme page he set up.

“I am so proud of how she has dealt with her diagnosis, just took it on the chin, never stopped laughing or making jokes.

“The strength she has shown is so overwhelming. My girl is a fighter. We all know she will fight until the end and always have a smile on her face.”

To donate to the fundraiser, click here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/6efjn-staceys-funeral-fund?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

So far, more than £1,700 has been raised towards a £4,000 target.