A woman has spoken of her heartbreak after losing her seven-year-old daughter to a brain tumour.
Claudia Carrick died in July this year, after first falling ill in January with what seemed to be a vomiting bug.
Her mum, Allison, 40, thought nothing of it initially but by February, Claudia was tired and complaining of difficulty swallowing.
Allison scheduled for her daughter to see a GP but before the appointment, Claudia was sent home from school after slurring her words and she was taken to hospital for tests.
Twin Claudia was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool 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 Alison was told it was inoperable and they would have to await the results of a biopsy.
On February 16, Allison was told the devastating news that the tumour - called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) - was incurable.
Without treatment, she was told Claudia could have a month left to live or 9-12 months with radiotherapy.
She described how the diagnosis came as a complete shock to her and Claudia’s twin brother, Robin.
Allison told Focus Features: “I was shell-shocked; I couldn’t take it in. My 40th birthday was three days later. Claudia had planned a surprise party for me, and I couldn’t believe how quickly our lives had fallen apart.”
Instead, the family organised a small celebration in the hospital with treats and a cake.
The twins were separated for three weeks – the longest ever time – until Robin was permitted to visit his sister every day after school.
Claudia was in a wheelchair and had “really changed physically” with the treatment, her mother said, but Robin was “thrilled” to be able to spend time with her.
To keep Claudia distracted, her mother allowed her to order gifts online to be delivered to the hospital, including a new doll, toy car, aeroplane and craft materials.
On one occasion, Claudia ordered £73 of chocolate cake by mistake and the twins had “chocolate round their mouths for the rest of the week.”
Describing her as “princess mad” who loved “dressing up”, Allison said Claudia used to spend hours trying on make-up and walking around the house in high heels.
She said: “Both Claudia and Robin had mild autism and if anything, that brought them closer together. They had their own unique greeting where they would raise their hands in a mirror image before hugging.”
Allison said she had been honest with Robin about his twin sister’s condition and that she would not get better, after Claudia unsuccessfully underwent radiation therapy.
On 8 July, Claudia passed away, aged seven, at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, with her mum by her bedside.
At her funeral, mourners dressed in Disney oufits while her family played Disney Songs from the film Frozen 2, along with a recording of Claudia singing her favourite song: “Boomerang.”
Allison said: “We threw a big kids’ party after the funeral with balloons, a bouncy castle, games and sweets. Claudia would have loved it.
“Robin and I miss her every day, but I know that she lives on through him and I take comfort from that.”
