A Wirral dad paid tribute to his 'fun-loving' daughter who died of a brain tumour after being diagnosed aged just 11.
Annie Kell, from Wirral, was diagnosed with the tumour and treated at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital, leaving Mike "praying for a miracle".
After doctors said nothing more could be done to treat the tumour, Mike and his wife Lynn were able to bring Annie home to be cared for in her family home with support from Wirral charity Claire House who "held their hands every step of the way".
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Now Mike runs counselling sessions at Claire House to support other bereaved dads after the charity supported his family "in their darkest days."
Mike told the ECHO: "I sometimes say that if you lose a parent or grandparent, it’s like losing your past. However, if you lose a child, you’re losing your future.
"Annie was a happy, fun-loving girl, just as she should be."
He said Annie was "a daddy’s girl and she definitely had me twisted around her little finger."
Mike said: "She loved to dance and was always performing in the lounge or garden for us.
"But everything changed when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 11."
Annie underwent treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital but soon after the doctors gave the family the devastating news that there was nothing more that could be done for Annie.
Mike said: "I had stayed positive throughout, always believing that she’d pull through, because the alternative was just too hard to even contemplate. I never gave up hope. Even to the last day, I was praying for a miracle.
"After she stopped treatment, we looked after Annie at home, just as she wanted, with the support of Claire House.
"When her condition deteriorated, we turned our downstairs front room into a bedroom and my wife Lynn took time off work to care for her."
Mike says Claire House nurses visited regularly to talk through Annie's medication and needs and were always on hand to offering a supporting ear to the rest of the family too.
He said: "If we had any worries or concerns, no matter what time it was, we could always phone Claire House and talk to someone.
"Too soon, the day came when Annie left us. We knew we were going to have to say goodbye to our little girl at some point, but nothing can prepare you for the pain of losing a child.
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"Claire House arranged for Annie to stay in their Butterfly Suite, which is their bereavement suite within the hospice.
"Having this facility where we could be with our little girl was such a comfort, and so much better than her being at a funeral home."
He says the charity also provided much-needed support to Annie's older brother Will, who was left "devastated" by Annie's death.
Mike said: "Annie idolised her big brother, Will, and he was by her side throughout her illness. He was devastated by the loss of his little sister, and understandably anxious about the funeral.
"Claire House’s expertise in supporting siblings made a big difference to Will.
"He was able to share his feelings and encouraged to contribute to the funeral in any way he wished, which really helped him to deal with the situation.
"I don't know how we would have got through it without Claire House."
