A young girl's joy of starting secondary school turned to despair when she was diagnosed with a rare cancer just 24 hours later.
Kirsten Fajardo, 11, remains "strong and upbeat" despite the shock news that she has diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - an aggressive cancerous tumour.
The youngster, who was head girl at primary school, had been complaining of headaches , vomiting and blurred vision since June but her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Kirsten was described by former teachers as an "exemplary" student and had been looking forward to her first day, but complained of double vision in both eyes.
Luckily, the year seven pupil was due to attend an appointment at a hospital eye clinic later that day on September 4.
A problem with her left eye was detected and the following day she had an urgent MRI scan at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorks, which revealed a tumour on her brain stem.
She was transferred to Leeds Children's Hospital for further tests.
Two days later her mother Liza Fajardo and father Jeffrey, both 43, were told that the large tumour is inoperable.
Kirsten, who is now using a wheelchair, has been too ill to return to Outwood City Fields after spending just one day there.
She is set to undergo six weeks of radiotherapy and oral chemotherapy - starting this week - to shrink the tumour and improve her symptoms.
Mrs Fajardo, who also has a 19-year-old son called Sean, added: "She is a very sweet girl and caring and loving. When I'm sad she will comfort me. She loves to hug and hugs everyone.
"She is very close to her brother Sean. Her brother is like me, he is heartbroken too. I'm exhausted, but I just need to stay strong for her. She is very brave."
Mrs Fajardo, who works as a trainee advance clinical practitioner at Pinderfields, is from the Philippines.
She said Kirsten, who was born in Wakefield, would love to travel to the Philippines to see her family again if she is well enough.
Friends have launched a crowdfunding appeal to help the family, which has so far raised more than £9,000.
Mrs Fajardo added: "Her only wish is to fly to the Philippines to see all her relatives."
