THE parents of a little girl left fighting for her life after she developed a rare brain tumour are campaigning to raise awareness about her illness.

Amy Grace Brown, aged four, of Maliston Road, Great Sankey, was given a 50/50 chance of survival after she became only the second child in the country to be diagnosed with an extremely rare form of sarcoma, a tumour on the lining of her brain.

Amy's symptoms included lethargy, loss of balance and nausea.

Following the separation of her mum, Maxine Bragg, and dad, Adam, Amy was diagnosed with child depression. Other diagnoses included severe constipation and abdominal migraines.

While on holiday in Wales, Amy lost her sight and after a scan the cause of her symptoms was discovered.

Dad Adam said: "She couldn't see for three or four days. The tumour was pushing on the retina at the back of her eye.

"I was on holiday in Spain and I got a call saying Amy could be brain dead. I took the next flight home and I was expecting to see her in the morgue when I got there."

Amy, then semi-conscious, was operated on to remove the tumour and is now undergoing chemotherapy.

As well as improving awareness of the condition, Maxine and Adam are trying to raise money for the ward at Alder Hey Children's Hospital where Amy is being treated.

Adam said: "You go into a doctor's surgery and you can pick up leaflets on anything, but there's nothing on cancer in children. There's a real advantage in being able to spot it early."

Amy's parents hope she will soon be able to attend Hood Manor County Primary School, where she was due to start in September.

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