Parents of three-year-old Esme who gained thousands of followers as she battled leukaemia announced the heart breaking news of her death.

Rebecca and Will Handley took to Facebook to tell of their daughter's passing on New Year's Day.

They wrote: “If you look to the sky tonight you will see a star shining brighter than any other.

“Our darling girl went onwards with her journey at midday today.

• 

  Tragic baby twin dies after duo diagnosed with cancer months after birth

• 

  Mum thought football-mad son, 9, had a simple cold – but he died two days later

“She was peaceful and in our arms and knew how ridiculously adored she was.”

Esme Handley was diagnosed with Leukaemia when she was 22 months old, after developing a large bruise on a family holiday to Greece.

After Esme fell over, a bruise that did not go away caused the parents to worry.

They discovered she had the high risk acute myeloid leukaemia, after being rushed to hospital in Greece.

• 

  Woman, 18, with Down's Syndrome who couldn't walk or talk becomes catwalk model

In September 2018, Esme was given a stem cell transplant, alongside three round of chemotherapy.

However, after six months, the leukaemia returned in the toddler's bone marrow.

This meant the family were not eligible for a second transplant on the NHS, leaving them with the struggle of needing to find £500k, for urgent private treatment.

In November 2019, her parent's admitted that Esme had simply had enough, and they could no longer expect for her to be cured.

They said: “Since diagnosis we have often spoken about a metaphorical ‘sealed envelope’ that contains Esme’s fate. Yesterday we got to open that envelope and it was not what we had hoped.

• 

  Man's '7 out of 10' headache was deadly cancer and he has just months to live

“We have spoken with every single leading paediatric consultant globally, tried all available drugs (some of which aren't even licensed in kids), explored a ridiculous amount of supplements and complementary medicines, had healing circles far and wide sending prayers…But it's not been enough. We don't get to keep our baby.

“'And to be perfectly honest, even if there was something else they could come up with, right now, I'm not sure we would be able to pursue it. It's very clear to see that Esme has simply had enough… and who could blame her?

“Esme thrives when she's outdoors but all she has known for 18 months is hospitals. The treatment she has had wouldn't be tolerated by most adults.”

• 

  Student thought she had ‘fresher’s flu’ only to be told she had leukaemia

• 

  Mum's cough turns out to be terminal cancer as she's left with months to live

The parents struggled to come to terms with their daughter's fate, and often cried when bumping into other children being wheeled into theatre, as Esme would never have another general anaesthetic again.

They also described on their Facebook page how Esme had been bedridden for three months.

• 

  Boy, 5, fighting leukaemia given just three months to live unless donor is found

• 

  Cancer cure BREAKTHROUGH: Boy, 6, has leukaemia treated with pioneering gene therapy

But the tot had her own Christmas tree and was even taken out of the Royal Marsden Hospital over the festive period to see Christmas lights in Morden before a screening of Frozen 2 at Everyman Esher.

Now Will and Rebecca, of West Norwood, South London, hope to donate money in Esme's name.

They have already raised £425,000 on GoFundMe, and are appealing for more to help other children in Esme’s situation.

To donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-2-year-old-esme-cure-her-leukaemia

• NHS
• Drugs
• Family
• Cancer

Source: Read Full Article