The parents of a 12-year-old girl who battled leukaemia vowed never to tell their daughter how sick she was so she wouldn’t be scared of dying.
Broghan Hughes from Kirkdale, Merseyside, was diagnosed with the deadly disease in 2010, when she was just two.
But despite having to undergo years of brutal treatments, including two bone marrow transplants, full body radiotherapy and numerous bouts of chemotherapy, Broghan never knew quite how serious her condition was.
Mum, Gema and dad, David said they “didn’t want her to be in fear of dying”, or be treated differently by other people.
Tragically, after a brave fight, Broghan passed away on April 18.
Heartbroken Gema told the Liverpool Echo : “The last three relapses that Broghan had she didn’t know she had relapsed.
"She didn’t know she was dying as we were always protecting her.
"Now that she has passed, we want the world to know how amazing she was."
The mum said in the 10 year battle for her life her daughter never once complained or asked 'why me?'
The 37-year-old added: “Nobody knows what she went through, because we wanted to keep things private, but now we can tell people how amazing she was, how much of an inspiration she was, and how hard she fought.
“Broghan was just really kind and caring.
"She would give you her last pound, she was just so selfless.
“She was bubbly, she was really witty and funny and she did everything with a smile on her face.
“Throughout the 10 years of fighting for her life she never once complained, never once said ‘why me?’"
Broghan, who Gema says always “wanted to be normal” met her best friend, Faith, when she joined Alsop High School in Walton.
And the two girls soon became inseparable.
Gema said: “When she did go to school she just wanted to be normal.
“And when she made friends with Faith, it was just amazing.
“Broghan loved and adored Faith, and she loved and adored Broghan."
Following the death of Broghan, friend Faith Mulhall, 12, set up a fundraising page to help her family.
On the page Faith wrote: "During our time together we created amazing memories. Broghan was such a special girl who brought a smile to everyone's face and had a heart of gold.
"You are my bestie for life Broghan and I will never forget you and love you so much."
Faith’s mum, Beverley Mulhall, 34, from Walton said: "They did everything together.
"Faith knew that Broghan had had cancer but they didn’t really talk about it.
"She knew that Broghan wasn’t feeling very well.
“She now wants to raise the money to give to Broghan’s parents, and maybe buy something in memory of Broghan, maybe a memorial.
"She just wants to help out in any way.”
Broghan’s cremation is being held on Wednesday, May 6 at Anfield Crematorium, with the request of only family flowers and any donations to be made the Faith's Go Fund Me page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-my-best-friend-broghan
Gema added: “I’ve been told that people can line the streets for Broghan as long as they’re two metres apart from each other.
“We’re going to give her another, proper funeral at a later date when we can all get together and celebrate her life properly.
"We would like to thank all the staff at Manchester children’s hospital & Alderhey for their efforts to save Broghan’s life and the Palliative care team or helping Broghan in her last few weeks of life.
"We are forever grateful to you all.The mum added: “I always say, if love could have saved Broghan she would have lived forever."
