A girl has spoken out after being bullied at school for losing her hair during chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer.
Sinead Zalick was told her wig looked fake by a group of laughing girls who threatened to pull it off her head.
The 12-year-old has been battling cancer after being diagnosed just before Christmas.
She originally went to her GP with a "poorly tummy" and was given medication, but her symptoms became "a lot worse" and her stomach started to bloat, causing her to be in "agony".
The girl from Plymouth was then rushed to hospital in Bristol with parents Adam Zalick and Jodie Clarke taking it in turns to stay with her each week due to Covid-19.
Young Sinead lost her hair during her treatment, and her family and friends rallied around her to raise money to buy wigs, Devon Live reports.
She has now finished chemotherapy but is waiting to see a kidney consultant.
Mum Jodie said: "Sinead has four lumps of cancer left in her uterus.
"They cannot be removed, but the surgeon believes these are dead, but we won't know until Sinead's scan in November."
Even though Sinead is still "very tired and unwell" she tries to go to school three days a week to keep up with her work and see her friends.
Sinead says she has sadly experienced vile insults and threats from other children at the school.
"We're happy to [share our story], if it helps another little human," mum Jodie said.
"Bullying comes in all different shapes and sizes."
Jodie said she discovered her daughter was being bullied after Sinead made a number of excuses not to go to school.
The mum said groups of girls were "laughing at Sinead" and telling her that her hair looks "**** and fake".
"They said they were going to rip it off", she added.
Jodie went into the school to sort the problem out and intended to keep Sinead home for the day, but when she arrived her brave little girl had got ready for school and decided to attend without her wig.
"When she put her uniform on I felt like the proudest mum in the world, but scared as we as parents know that bullying goes on," she said.
"But we didn't think it would be this brutal and so quick."
Sinead has also issued a message to other children who may experience similar situations.
"Don't listen to other people, just be yourself," the brave girl said.
"Don't judge a book by it's cover."
Jodie added: "My message would be if your gut tells you something isn't right then it isn't.
"I know Sinead inside and out and I know she loves school, so for her to say she didn't want to go I knew something was wrong.
"Just please, as a parent to a parent, if your child is being a bully stop it now."
A fundraiser was set up for Sinead and her family to support them during this difficult time.
