Tragedy as schoolgirl dies weeks after family thought she had heatstroke

Ella-Grace Holman (Image: Kirsty Eltringham) A schoolgirl has died several weeks after becoming ill, with her family initially misdiagnosing her symptoms as heatstroke. Ella-Grace Holman became ill, and when her school called her mother, Amy, to come pick her up, she was taken to the hospital. Ella’s symptoms of numbness in her face led to scans during her hospitalisation, which discovered a brain tumour. She underwent a lengthy eight-and-a-half-hour operation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to remove the malignant tumour. Despite her difficult circumstances, Ella shown tremendous bravery in tackling her circumstances with a positive attitude and preparing to undergo 18 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Her health deteriorated, and she began to lose weight, finally necessitating a peg being fitted for feeding. Ella underwent gruelling treatment after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour (Image: Kirsty Eltringham) Ella’s condition deteriorated significantly as she developed slurred speech and uncontrollable limb motions. According to her cousin Kirsty Eltringham, she needed extra surgery due to fluid buildup on her brain, but the outlook was uncertain, and there were fears about her waking up following the procedure. Kirstly told the Liverpool Echo: “She pulled through and came around and doctors said if she carried on this way they could restart chemotherapy.” Ella continued to fight but the family were soon told the cancer had spread and was terminal. Ella died at Alder Hey on July 20, surrounded by her loved ones. Paying tribute to her much-loved cousin, Kirsty said: “She loved dancing, she loved doing selfies and going out with her friends. “She’s got an older sister Jess and they were dead close, she was always out with the kids and always wanted cuddles and to sit on your knee. She was definitely the sassy one.” The Manchester Evening News reports that a fundraiser was set up to help the family through the difficult journey, which will now be put towards funeral details and the family as well as donations to Alder Hey, This weekend, Kirsty will be completing a charity bike ride in her cousin’s memory. Despite her own health struggles, Kirsty will be facing the weather and setting off from her home in Newton-le-Willows and riding to Alder Hey on Saturday. Incredibly, the fundraiser has already surpassed its target as support comes pouring in. Anyone wishing to donate can do so  here . A message on the fundraising page reads: “The strength and determination that girl has shown over these past few weeks has absolutely blown us all away in one way or another. The daily updates from the family, Ella defying the doctors and doing things in her own time, her own way certainly shown how much of a warrior she truly was. “Words cannot explain the emotions where a child having to go through that is concerned, and my heart aches so bad for my family and we all just wish we could take it away. I questioned if to complete the bike ride as the outcome is now so different, but then I thought about all the amazing people who have given towards Ella and my family and I also think of Ella who knew this was all for her. “So with that the ride carries on and on the 29th July we set off and we do this in memory of the most amazing little girl in the world who shown more strength and determination than any 9 year old should have to face. You are the reason we carry on Ella, and we know you’ll be overseeing us in spirit.” According to the NHS, the symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain affected. Common symptoms include: headaches seizures persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body vision or speech problems