MUM-OF-22 Sue Radford has admitted that her heart is “broken” after the tragic death of family friend Sophie Walker.
Sophie Walker, 17, was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour – a type of kidney cancer – on October 25 2017.
The brave teenager started a four-week course of chemotherapy shortly after.
Over the following years, she went into remission twice – but relapsed four times.
And after a seven-year-long brave fight with the rare cancer, Sophie’s heartbroken family revealed that she passed away last night.
They explained that Sophie died with her twin sister Megan, 17, by her side.
Now, tributes have flooded in, with Britain’s Biggest Family, the Radfords, expressing their love for the youngster and devastation at the news.
In a gut-wrenching post on Instagram, Sophie’s family wrote: “Our beautiful, intelligent, funny and brave girl Sophie fell fast asleep last night just after 6.30pm with Megan lying by her side.
“We love her with all our hearts and our world will never be the same again, to say we are heartbroken is a complete understatement.
“Please keep our broken family in your thoughts and prayers, this is a post I never ever thought I’d have to write”.
Sophie’s mum Rebecca, 43, is best friends with Sue Radford, 48, who led tributes online.
Sue, mum to Britain’s biggest family, revealed that everyone has been rocked by the death of the “kind-hearted, funny, brave girl”.
Commenting on the post, she wrote: “Sophie our hearts are broken, you really were the most beautiful kind hearted funny brave girl I know.
“We will miss your beautiful smile and laugh so much, you rest now Sophie and take care of your beautiful amazing family.
“Love you forever beautiful girl”.
THE Radford family have been friends with Rebecca's 10 kids since 2013.
Rebecca, who lives in Edinburgh with her husband Jamie, 45, who both run a hostel said: “We used to live in Morecambe, which is how we met the Radford family.
“When I was pregnant with the twins, I told my midwife that I was nervous about my growing family.
“My midwife told me that one of her ladies had just had her 13th baby and was doing great, which made me feel better.
“Morecambe isn’t a big place, so my husband Jamie and I reached out to Sue and Noel.”
The two families quickly bonded and would often go on holiday together to France or Cornwall.
In 2014, the Walkers moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, but remained close to the Radford’s, seeing them several times a year.
Chloe Radford penned: “Absolutely heartbreaking. Such a beautiful, brave girl.
“There really are no words. Keeping you all in my thoughts and sending so much love and strength.”
Her sister, Sophie Radford, shared: “The most beautiful bravest girl. Our hearts are absolutely broken.
You really were the most beautiful kind hearted funny brave girl I know
Sue Radford
“Love you always Soph. God bless darling girl.”
Whilst another Radford child, Katie Radford, gushed: “Love you all so much, sending all my love.
“You really was a beautiful kind hearted girl inside and out, love you.”
Katie Radford also re-shared the post to her Instagram stories, alongside heartbroken emojis, as she penned: “Love you Sophie. Will cherish all the memories we have together.”
WILMS tumours are a type of kidney cancer that mainly affect children.
Wilms tumours are also called nephroblastomas. They develop from cells called nephroblasts.
Kidney cancer in children is rare but Wilms tumour is the most common type.
About 85 children between the ages of 0 and 14 years are diagnosed with Wilms tumour each year in the UK.
They are most common in children under 5 years. Rarely they can develop in older children and very rarely, in adults.
Wilms tumours usually only affect one kidney. But in fewer than 10 out of every 100 children, it can affect both kidneys.
The most common symptom is a painless swelling of the tummy (abdomen).
Parents might notice a lump in the tummy when bathing the baby, or if their child suddenly jumps a nappy size. Or a healthcare worker might notice a swollen tummy when the child is having a routine appointment.
Other less common symptoms include:
Many other social media users rushed to the comments to support Sophie’s family.
One user said: “My heart is shattered into a million pieces for you all.
“Your family did not deserve this and neither did Sophie, it’s truly devastating. This world is so cruel at times.
Sophie was one brave girl, a fighter, who gave it her all every single day
Instagram user
“Sophie was such a beautiful young girl and her life will live on in your memories & the stories you tell about all the love you had for, the funny times you had with her and all those amazing qualities that made her the wonderful courageous girl she was”.
A second posted: “I’m so so sorry guys. Sophie gave it a damn good fight, you all did, she’s out of pain now.
“It doesn’t make sense and it’s cruel that beautiful, kind people are taken this way so early. You now have the most glamorous guardian angel ever. Fly high sweet girl”.
Whilst a third commented: “I’m so sorry to read this sad news. Sophie was one brave girl, a fighter, who gave it her all every single day.”
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