How can Bradley be dead? He’s only six

was so glad his friends were there. In her mind she’s eight and so much older.

“To her he seemed little and it was hard for her to understand how he could be the one to go. She deals with things in her own way but we’re devastated for Bradley’s mum and dad. They’re lovely, lovely people. Bradley was a special little boy. I’ll always remember his cheekiness. He had a real wit for such a young lad and he kept the other kids smiling on the ward.”

Bradley, from Blackhall Colliery, Co Durham, and Brooklyn were side by side at the Children of Courage awards in the North East and Cumbria at Newcastle United’s St James Park ground last November.

And our exclusive picture shows the pair enjoying the Christmas lights switch-on at Brooklyn’s home town of Peterlee, Co Durham. They shared Santa’s sleigh, along with five-year-old leukaemia sufferer Mia Tate.

Brooklyn was diagnosed with kidney cancer in August 2015. Chemotherapy caused her to lose the use of her legs and arms temporarily – and she had a kidney removed.

Two months later she was given the all-clear and by February 2016 she was well enough to go back to school.

Six months later her mum and dad, HGV driver husband Shaun, 47, were devastated after a scan found a second tumour in her right lung.

In January this year she had half her lung removed. Now the cancer is in remission and she is on a long road to recovery.

Joanne said: “Bradley’s mum Gemma and dad Carl have been such a rock for us.

“No matter how serious Bradley’s condition was, they always got in touch to offer words of help and advice for us.

Bradley was so brave and I know that helped other children including Brooklyn JOANNE HUTCHINSON MUM OF BRADLEY’S HOSPITAL PAL