A two-year-old girl whose brave battle against childhood cancer touched the nation's hearts has sadly died. Little Hallie Reeve was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia at just eight-months-old during her first holiday abroad in Spain last summer.
A doctor originally dismissed her symptoms as being down to the hot weather but she was diagnosed with cancer just an hour later. She was flown home before her treatment began, which included chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and blood transfusions.
A fundraiser was launched by her family in a bid to raise £1 million for pionerring CAR T-cell therapy, which was not available on the NHS. The Rally for Hallie appeal raised more than £870,000 and was backed by singer-songwriter Tom Grennan and former footballer Ashley Cain.
Mum Kim Wileman, 29, took to Instagram today to tragically announce that baby Hallie had lost her battle and passed away on Sunday. She wrote: "Words will never do you justice Hallie.
"You really were the most gentle, loving, funny, caring, beautiful little girl. The purest soul with the most infectious smile. My heart will be yours forever. You showed me what true love is and I will never love anyone the way I loved you.
"Thank you for giving me the honour of being your mummy. No more hospitals. No more fighting. No more isolation. You are as free as your beloved birds now baby.
"Nothing will ever be the same again, nor will I. Life has shattered my hopes and dreams but I promise you, you will live on through me and I will forever keep your memory alive. I wish more than anything you could have stayed with me, but you are just too good for this world.
"I love you and miss you more than I can ever express. It hurts so deeply. My body is aching for you but when I close my eyes I can still feel you holding my hand and please hold mummy’s hand forever. My love for you will never end, it grows more every day.
"Rest in perfect peace my little superstar. Yours forever, mummy x"
Kim and dad Jamie Reeve, 34, said they first spotted something was wrong with Hallie just hours before their holiday flight to Spain in July last year. She fell ill during the flight to Malaga and was "lethargic and limp" by the time they landed.
Within an hour Hallie was diagnosed with cancer. Hallie’s aunt, Hannah Dugale, 32, previously said: ‘Within an hour they had a leukaemia diagnosis.
"They had only been in Spain a couple of hours. Hallie was just eight months old."
Ashley Cain took to his Instagram account and posted a picture of Hallie, with a touching message of support after hearing about her plight. He wrote: "What a beautiful little girl. Sending my love, my strength and prayers your way. Also, my hand in help."
