Sophie was 5½ years old and had been a normal, bright, cheerful, bubbly and healthy child with a zest for life. She loved Barbie, anything pink and most importantly her friends and family. It soon became obvious that our lives would never be the same again. Normality suddenly took on a very different meaning.

Sophie was diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer following only a few days of feeling unwell. Her tumour had spread from her kidney, up her main vein and into her liver and heart.

She immediately began an intensive regime of chemotherapy at Southampton General Hospital to try and shrink the tumour. Without surgery to remove the tumour her outlook was very bleak. After weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie underwent a major operation during which her heart was stopped so that the surgeon could remove the tumour from her heart, liver and left kidney. The operation was a success but, combined with the radiotherapy and continued chemotherapy, Sophie was very poorly.

Following weeks of touch and go, Sophie pulled through and became well enough to go home to her family in Eastleigh. Family life became almost normal, interspersed with regular visits to hospital for chemotherapy, blood tests, transfusions and more.

Life was turned upside down again when a routine scan gave the news we had all dreaded. The cancer had not been beaten and the chemotherapy was no longer working.

Sophie passed away peacefully at home on 9th December 2004 with her family by her side.

Sophie dealt with her illness with a bravery and dignity way beyond her years.