"Two weeks ago when she went to bed we knew. We even went to see a consultant to make sure there was nothing we could have done.

"She was getting worse and she was in a lot of pain. Near the end we had to set her down with morphine. If she'd been awake and in pain... I couldn't see her in pain. But she never moaned and she still smiled.

"For 11 years she just blew us apart. Her strength for an 11-year-old...

"If she had carried on living she would have been something big. She was a delight and I was proud to say she was my daughter.

"We were going to do the Race for Life and she had filled in the badge for her to do it. We were supposed to be dressing up as pink policemen. She'll still be there running with me.

"She was such a beautiful girl. The beauty in that girl, not even just looks but her personality. She always had a fantastic sense of humour and she will always be so well missed.

"I'm just going to so much miss her. I called her my sidekick and now she's gone. It's just so hard. You knew this day was going to come but you never realise how you're going to feel.

"I'd like to thank everybody for their thoughts, their support and everything they have done for the family and Eden. We're just so grateful. The cards that are coming through are just lovely. She has touched everybody's hearts.

"You look back now and we've all gone through so much to come out the other end now but other parents are going through it and they need support.

"You think that when you have a child you've got them for life, you don't think they're going to get struck down. Kids are getting cancer every day and people's lives are getting destroyed. It's just horrendous.

"When you get told that news, that first news, your world is crushed and to know that somebody's there for you…

"I would love it if I could help the families when they walk through there in ward 10, to be there as a friendly face and listen and help them. That's what I would love to do now.

"I just wish there was something we could have done, even though I know there was nothing, nothing, we could have done.

"It makes you realise and appreciate your children. You never think you'll be burying your own. It makes you look forward to heaven more now though."