A teenager who captured the heart of a nation has died of cancer at the age of 15.
Robyn Smith, who battled cancer for 13 years, died peacefully at her home in Dublin surrounded by her family.
Since the age of three she has had neruoblastoma and even travelled to the USA for pioneering treatment, Dublin Live reported.
In 2018 she celebrated her first cancer-free Christmas in 10 years after she was the first Irish person to be accepted into the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Speaking at the time, Robyn's mum Bernadette Doran said the news was "the best Christmas present I could wish for".
In January 2019 it became clear that Robyn had relapsed, with cancer found in her jaw, spine and bone marrow.
Writing on a social media page dedicated to Robyn at the time, her mum said: "Robyn has had many setbacks lately. She had issues with her feeding tube, then a virus causing her to pause one of her inhibitor medications, no chemo because of how low her blood counts have been.
"All this lack of treatment for Neuroblastoma has caused her disease to progress.
"She still has disease in jaw, spine, pelvis etc but now a new spot in her arm. One of the tumours on her spine came out of the bone and entered the soft tissue.
"It started to lean on her spinal cord causing one leg to loose sensation & become heavy.
"Thankfully Crumlin was able to arrange radiotherapy in St Lukes to help the symptoms of that spinal tumour.
"Robyn can now walk on that leg again but it’s still not back to normal but much better. She is now tolerating her inhibitor meds so that’s also a step in the right direction."
Sadly her body could no longer stave off the disease.
She is survived by mum Bernadette, dad Leighton and her sister Millie.
Her death notice on RIP.ie reads: "Sadly missed by her heartbroken mam, dad, sister, Martina, grandad Colm, nanny’s Madeline and Kathleen, aunts Cathy, Caroline and Laura, cousins Faith, Teaghan, Kayla, Ava and Cole also her aunts Janet and Lorraine and all her uncles, extended family friends and neighbours.
"A sincere thank you to all Robyn’s life followers for their kindness, help and support.
"Due to Government and HSE guidelines on Social gatherings, a private family Funeral will take place.
"Those who would have liked to attend the Funeral but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence section below.
"A memorial for Robyn will take place at a later date. No flowers by request please, donations if desired to Robyn’s Life Trust."
