'LOVE YOU FOREVER'
‘Our hearts are broken, we will miss your smile’ mum-of-22 Sue Radford cries after ‘beautiful’ girl loses cancer battle
Many of the Radford children took to the comments to share their support
MUM-OF-22 Sue Radford says her heart is “broken” after the tragic death of her best friend's daughter.
Sophie Walker, 17, died last night after a seven-year battle with Wilms tumour - a rare type of kidney cancer.
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Her mum Rebecca, 43, is best friends with Sue, mum to Britain’s biggest family, who led tributes online.
Commenting under a gut-wrenching post shared by Sophie's family on Instagram, the 48-year-old described Sophie as a "kind-hearted, funny, brave girl".
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.
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"Love you forever beautiful girl."
Sue's daughter Chloe 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.”
You really were the most beautiful kind hearted funny brave girl I know
Sue Radford
Her sister Sophie added: “The most beautiful bravest girl. Our hearts are absolutely broken.
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“Love you always Soph. God bless darling girl.”
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Katie, another Radford child, gushed: “Love you all so much, sending all my love.”
She also re-shared the post to her Instagram stories, alongside heartbroken emojis and penned: “Love you Sophie. Will cherish all the memories we have together.”
The brave teenager started a four-week course of chemotherapy shortly after being diagnosed on October 25 2017.
Over the years, she went into remission twice but relapsed four times.
She died with her twin sister Megan, 17, by her side.
Announcing her passing, 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."
The Radfords and the Walkers
THE Radford family have been friends with Rebecca's 10 kids since 2013.
Rebecca, who runs a hostel with husband Jamie, 45, 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 but remained close to the Radfords, seeing them several times a year.
Other social media users rushed to the comments to support Sophie’s family.
One 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 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."
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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."
What is Wilms tumour?
WILMS tumours are a type of kidney cancer that mainly affect children.
They are also called nephroblastomas as 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 - mostly children under 5.
Rarely, Wilms tumours can develop in older children and very rarely, in adults.
Wilms tumours usually only affect one kidney but in fewer than 10 out of 100 children, they can affect both kidneys.
The most common symptom is a painless swelling of the abdomen.
Parents might notice a lump in the tummy when bathing the baby, or if their child suddenly jumps a nappy size.
A healthcare worker might notice a swollen tummy when the child is having a routine appointment.
Other less common symptoms include:
- blood in their wee (urine)
- pain caused by bleeding inside the tumour
- loss of appetite
- raised blood pressure
- high temperature (fever)
- weight loss
- constipation
- generally feeling unwell
- being irritable due to their tummy feeling uncomfortable
- shortness of breath and cough (usually if the cancer has spread to the lungs)
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