'We'll never forget our little Poppy

The former MKR stars are making sure their daughter's memory and impact continue

It was never meant to end like this. My Kitchen Rules Australia fan favourites Carly Saunders and Tresne Middleton had long dreamed of taking their baby daughter Poppy Grace home from hospital, cured of the leukaemia that had plagued her since she was 11 weeks old.

But after a lifetime of fighting and countless treatments, Poppy Grace passed away on 16 February, aged 20 months.

"I lost my brother in 2017 and my mum two years later, but nothing could prepare us for the grief of losing Poppy," Carly, 41, tells Woman's Day.

DEVOTED MUMS

During the time Poppy was in hospital, her devoted mums documented her every win and challenge online. She had well wishers from all over the world cheering her on.

"She was so tough and happy, it didn't matter what was happening," says Carly. "She could have been in surgery or vomited 20 times, but afterwards she'd be smiling and laughing with the nurses. She lifted people up even though she was having a hard time she was a special little person."

The Newcastle couple - who spent 534 days in hospital with their daughter and almost two years in isolation as a family suddenly had a whole new world to face. And without Poppy in it, life didn't feel right any more.