Tracy Grace and her children have been through more than most families deal with in a lifetime.

The mum-of-five, 42, tragically lost her husband to cancer in 2011 while she was pregnant with her fifth child, Llana.

Five years later her third child, Sian, was also struck down with the disease and underwent a leg amputation.

It was a devastating blow but Tracy and her family stayed strong.

“When I was told Sian had cancer by the doctor last year I was numb,” she recalls.

“Only a few years earlier I had been through it all before with my husband Darren and now my world was going to be turned upside down again.

“I obviously cried and got angry, but then I had no choice – I had to carry on and get on with it as I had five children and one was just about to start school.”

Experts diagnosed Sian, now aged 10, with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer which usually develops in growing bones.

The bombshell came just five years after Tracy’s childhood sweetheart Darren – a former postman and taxi driver – died following adverse effects during his cancer treatment.

Sian, who goes to Herne Junior School, had her right leg amputated last August and recently went through more chemotherapy.

“Sian’s diagnosis is not straightforward, but she is strong,” Tracy says.

“She started complaining of pain in her right leg last year and, as a parent, I was saying maybe she had pulled a muscle or torn a ligament.

“We went to A&E, and the doctor said there was a cancerous tumour – I could not believe it when I heard the news.

“She is now out of pain with her leg following the amputation, but the problem we face now is that the tumours in her lungs are still growing.”

While dealing with such cruel news, Tracy still works in the online shopping department at Sainsbury’s in Chestfield, where she has been for the last 10 years.

Her eldest two, Aaron, 15, and Amelia, 12, attend Herne Bay High, while Olivia, seven, and Llana, five, are at Herne Juniors and Infants respectively.

Llana never met her dad – she was born on Father’s Day 2011 just three months after Darren’s death.

“I am in a world where I am backwards and forwards from the hospital for Sian, with school runs thrown in as well – it is a bit of a whirlwind,” Tracy says.

“There are times when I do not want to get out of bed and go down to the school, but you cannot do that when you have got children.

“I have a great responsibilty in being a role model and bringing five young children up.

“They are children who should not have to be dealing with what life throws at them, but they have been doing a marvellous job.”

They have been coping so well that earlier this month they won the most courageous family title at the Ward & Partners Children’s Awards.

The awards celebrate Kent’s awe-inspiring youngsters who have battled adversity and faced up to challenging situations.

Tracy, of The Downings, Herne Bay, said: “I have got a couple of friends who have been looking after the children while I spend time with Sian and, unbeknown to me, they took it upon themselves to put us in for the award.

“I was a little embarrassed as I thought I was just a parent being a parent, but I was amazed, surprised and excited about going.

“We took all of the family there and the kids absolutely loved it.

“I am very honoured to get the award as I have just done what most parents would do, which is to look after their children and try to hold things together.

“I would like to thank my friends, family, neighbours and the schools for all they have done.”