Rest in peace, wee baby. You’ll remain in our hearts forever
Family’s tribute to cancer fight girl
Brave Tilly Sharkey finally lost her fight for life this week.
But not until she had touched hearts around the world with an inspiring battle to beat her cancer.
A battle that engaged not just her own community, but thousands of wellwishers from the other side of the globe in a campaign that raised more than £ 120,000 to try and keep her alive.
Tilly, of Ayr, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning surrounded by family, just days before her sixth birthday. In the end, her aggressive brain tumour proved just too much to overcome.
Mum Michelle, 32, had been given the heartbreaking news earlier this year that her daughter faced just 12 months to live. But neither Tilly, nor her family, ever submitted to the Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma ( DIPG) tumour.
Ranked as one of the most aggressive
forms of childhood cancer, Tilly’s prognosis was always bleak. However, a stirring fundraising campaign at home and abroad led to pioneering treatment in America as one last chance.
A string of events were held by school pals at St John’s Primary, and community gigs were held the length and breadth of Ayrshire.
But on Tuesday, the news that everyone feared was confirmed in a statement on Tilly’s official fundraising page.
It read: “It’s with unbearably heavy hearts that we have to tell you all that our gorgeous wee Tilly went to heaven in the early hours of this morning.
“We are grateful that Tilly passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones.
“As much as this feels like a horrible dream, there are no words to describe how proud we all are of the undeniable bravery our little princess has shown.
“You truly are an inspiration and will be missed beyond measure. Rest in peace wee wee baby, you’ll remain in our hearts forever.”
The emotional statement confirmed Tilly’s radiotherapy had been stopped following concerns for her safety after she suffered two seizures and was admitted to intensive care.
It read: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for all your amazing support and effort raising money and awareness for Tilly’s treatment.
“There are no words to describe how touched we all are with the amount of people we have reached from our local communities and across the globe.
“We have been tru l y overwhelmed by people’s generosity and kindness throughout Tilly’s battle.” Thousands of tributes poured in on social media as soon as the heartbreaking news was announced.
And Louise Gray, headteacher at St John’s, where Tilly was in primary two, said: “Tilly was a beautiful child inside and out.
“Following her diagnosis she fought a brave fight against cancer. Her family, friends, community and school community came together and supported Tilly by raising much needed money for her treatment, but also awareness of the terrible illness that affects so many children. Tilly loved school, especially playing princesses and singing in the home corner with her friends.
“She was always to be seen at the writing table where she loved to write her letters, draw pictures and socialise. She loved to be the boss at the Post Office and was always giving the children jobs to carry out.
“We are all devastated by the loss of a wonderful girl who was an inspiration to all the children and staff.
“Tilly and her sister Taylor will always be a part of the family of St John’s primary. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family now and always.”