A school girl diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour has been finally reunited with her twin brother.
Seven-year-old Claudia Carrick received the shock diagnosis at Alder Hey after becoming ill at school earlier this month.
Claudia's mum Alison has been told her little girl could have a month left to live or 9-12 months with radiotherapy.
Claudia has been separated from her twin brother Robin for the first time in her life.
However on Thursday, Robin was allowed in to sit with his twin sister at Alder Hey. The children had been separated since Claudia became ill on February 11.
A family friend said: "Robin and Claudia were both premature and have been soul mates ever since.
"They have been inseparable and are best friends.
"They both played on iPads which have been given to the family by local business owners.
"The support so far has been amazing."
Claudia started complaining of a sore throat and difficulty swallowing on February 11, so her mum Alison booked her a doctors appointment for that afternoon.
The seven-year-old appeared to have no other symptoms and was her "usual bubbly self", until she fell ill later that day while she was at school, where teachers said she had lost her balance.
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Claudia was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where doctors found fluid on her brain and an operation the next day revealed she had a brain tumour.
Due to the position of the tumour on the brain mum Alison was told it was inoperable and they would have to await the results of a biopsy.
On February 16, Alison and her mum Olwyn, were told the devastating news that the tumour - called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) - was incurable.
Without treatment, Alison was told Claudia could have a month left to live or 9-12 months with radiotherapy.
DIPG is an aggressive, fast growing type of brain cancer which most commonly affects children.
Clinical trials for DIPG at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, have been put on hold until 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but doctors say this will be too late for Claudia.
The family are appealing for help in finding any other clinical trials that are available for this type of cancer to help prolong her life.
In the mean time, Claudia will undergo radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Hospital in Wirral, with doctors drawing up a treatment plan with the hope of starting for three weeks from Monday.
A Go Fund Me page to help raise money for the family and allow them to make special memories together has now raised over £16,000.
