Courageous Tegan, 3, loses her battle against cancer (From Wirral Globe)

Courageous Tegan, 3, loses her battle against cancer

4:55pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Craig Manning

A WIRRAL toddler diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer has lost her battle with the disease.

Three-year-old Tegan Lees from Birkenhead was diagnosed with Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour (ATRT) when she was 18 months old.

Tegan had a brain tumour removed in 2011 and was undergoing extensive treatment at Alder Hey in Liverpool after a scan revealed a second tumour, which has since been removed.

To ensure the cancer would not return,  Tegan faced months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She had a seizure last week and it was found later that the cancer had spread across her spine.

She died at home, surrounded by family on Friday.

Her funeral will take place at St Saviour’s Church in Oxton on Monday.

Her family plan to set up a charity in her memory to fund research into the disease.

In a statement the family said: "Tegan was a very brave little girl who was very aware of what was going on.

“She never cried once, in fact she was more concerned about her family crying.

"We managed to get Tegan Christened last weekend.

"I want to thank everyone at Alder Hey for everything they have done for Tegan.”

“We are trying to set up a registered charity in her name and hope to raise as much money as we can for research into ATRT. It’s a disease that not much seems to be known about.”

In August, Tegan’s family had organised a fun-day to help give her a much-needed break from treatment.