Rachel was the younger of our two children and was very bright and beautiful. She was always full of life and energy but our world fell apart one day in July 2003 when we were told Rachel had an incurable and fast growing brain tumour. No words can describe the ice cold fear and numbness we felt. She had 6 operations followed by radiotherapy and some chemotherapy. The treatment helped to slow down the tumour enough for her to enjoy her 8th birthday party in November 2003 with her schoolfriends and for us to have a brilliant but poignant Christmas. Sadly in February 2004 the tumour began to grow with aggression and all her treatment was stopped. Our beautiful little daughter very sadly lost her fight to cancer on 30 March 2004 in a children's hospice. Our lives have been shattered by her loss.