A six-year-old girl developed a 'lazy eye' before being diagnosed with aggressive cancer and given just months to live.
When Ebony Butters suddenly started getting double vision and struggling to balance her family feared something serious could be wrong.
Following tests, doctors found she had a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; a form of tumour that is very difficult to treat.
They were told she will likely die within six to nine months.
Ebony's aunt Nina Auty said the family has been living in a "nightmare", describing her niece as a "little ray of sunshine".
The little girl's loved ones are now raising money for some days out and a last family holiday to Disneyland Paris.
Nina told GrimsbyLive: "Everything started a couple of months ago when we thought she just had eye problems.
"At first, we thought she had a drifting eye so we went to the opticians, but they said she had perfect vision.
"They spoke about giving her a patch, but the issue continued and she began to have double vision.
"Things got worse and her behaviour started to be affected and she started losing her balance.
"She was not herself and we knew something was wrong."
After seeing no signs of improvement, Ebony was taken to Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby for blood tests.
"Within a week, her balance got worse and she was very sleepy, which was really out of character," explained Nina.
"They gave her a CT scan which confirmed something wasn't right."
An MRI scan followed, which discovered a growth on the brain.
Ebony was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; a form of tumour that is very difficult to treat.
Now, Ebony is spending time in hospital, receiving treatments that it is hoped will prolong her life.
Nina said: "She really doesn't enjoy it in there and is now going to Leeds to design a mask for her therapy, which will hopefully help her more."
Nina said the family was struggling to come to terms with what had happened.
"It was a complete shock when they told us. It hit us all for six. She's a little ray of sunshine and it's so hard," she said.
"There are so many mixed emotions between us all. We're such a close-knit family and are all sticking together as much as we can really."
She added: "Ebony is family orientated herself and full of life. She loves school, especially maths, and is a massive fan of bubblegum ice cream. She's full of life to say the least."
Mum Theresa, dad Arran and the rest of the family are trying to make the most of the time they have left together.
Nina said: "Life has changed so much recently, we're just trying to keep it together for her. I don't want her to see us upset, but it's so hard keeping it together when you're with her.
"I honestly don't know how my sister and Ebony's dad are coping. It's like we are living a nightmare to be honest."
To help make the most of the time they have left, Nina has set up a GoFundMe page, with the hope of paying for days out and a holiday, and her school friends at Welholme Academy are organising a fun day, as well as writing Ebony a card.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
