WEE WARRIOR
Brave young Rangers fan, 12, dies after brain tumour battle
Hopes for Old Firm tribute revealed
A BRAVE schoolgirl who was told her aggressive brain tumour was ‘a tummy bug’ has lost her fight for life.
Inspirational 12-year-old Ava Nelson has been fighting high grade glioblastoma for two years after being diagnosed when she was just 10.
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Ava passed away peacefully on April 16 at Robin House Children’s Hospice in Balloch, surrounded by her adoring family, including mum Jackie Dunlop, 37, and dad Ronald Nelson, 67.
Mum Jackie says every day has been a struggle since.
She said: “We just feel numb, to be honest. It’s still hard to take it in, even though we knew this day was coming, it’s impossible to believe she is gone.”
Jackie says Ava, from Kilwinning in Ayrshire, never knew her cancer was terminal as the mum-of-three desperately tried to protect her daughter.
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She said the plucky schoolgirl fought hard to survive and “never once complained” about her diagnosis, even when medics initially told the family Ava’s headaches and vomiting were ‘a viral tummy bug’.
Jackie said: “She was just incredible. So brave. Even minutes after being told she had brain cancer she had a wee cry and then just said, ‘Right well, we will just need to deal with it’.
“I just knew there was more to it. I would not accept it was viral. I pushed and pushed for a scan and that’s when they discovered a huge mass on her brain.
“It was devastating, but she was so strong. She would put a lot of adults to shame. I know I wouldn’t have been able to cope with that.”
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Lifelong Rangers fan, Ava, got to meet her heroes, including favourite player James Tavernier, during a visit to Ibrox last year.
Now mum Jackie hopes Gers fans will pay tribute to the youngster during the Old Firm clash on May 11 - the day after Ava’s funeral.
She said: “She was a die-hard Rangers fan so that would be really special.”
Rangers fans are also planning a minute-long applause during their match with Kilmarnock this weekend.
Jackie says Ava’s two sisters, Skye, 16 and Payton, seven, as well as stepdad Edward Reynor and step-siblings Xiomara, six and twins Mark and Edward, five, have been left lost without their sibling.
She said: “The kids are being brave but they’re a bit lost. We are just trying to keep things as normal as possible for them, but it’s very hard.”
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Ava’s devastated family are now preparing to give their “wee warrior” the most special final send off possible as they lay her to rest on Friday, May 10.
Ava will leave Robin House with her family with staff preparing to give her a guard of honour as she begins her final journey from Balloch to Ayrshire, before a service at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium in Dreghorn.
Jackie is determined her little girl’s death won’t be in vain and is raising money for CHAS (Children’s Hospitals Across Scotland) in a bid to help other families who find themselves in the same impossible position as hers.
She said: “When I first heard the word ‘hospice’ I just thought ‘oh no thanks’. People told me amazing things about Robin House but I honestly didn’t believe them until I experienced it for myself.
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“It is a really special place so I just wanted to do something in Ava’s memory because I will never forget what they did for her and for our family.”
To donate to Jackie’s fundraiser visit Just Giving
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