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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Benjamin Roberts-Haslam

Family's heartbreak as 'selfless' woman, 19, dies

An "amazing" woman died just days after turning 19.

Daniela Brandao first went to the doctor in September last year when she started having excruciating and debilitating pains down her right side that spread to her front and back, she then had an emergency scan which found that she had a 10cm tumour in her liver. The 18-year-old at the time was told that the tumour could be removed and she would be able to live the rest of her life as normal until she was given the news that the cancer had spread to her lungs and spine after the surgery.

Despite Daniela's best efforts and remaining positive throughout the heartbreaking journey, she died just six days after turning 19 on January 17. Her sister Jess, 22, told the ECHO: "As a person, she was honestly amazing.

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"I always think when people say these things after a death 'how true are they?' but she was just beautifully honest. She'd just got her A-Level results in the summer.

"I remember the night she found out the cancer was spreading, I was getting to ready to go out with a couple of friends and she sent me a text. I instantly got a call telling me not to open it because she wanted me to enjoy my night.

"That was the type of person she was, we would always ring each other before a night out. She was so selfless She would do anything for her friends and family. She was just incredibly selfless."

Jess, who lived in Sheffield when her sister was given her devastating diagnosis, moved back into her family home in Greasby while her sister fought the ruthless disease that had spread across her body, living with her sisters Kayla, 17, Adriana, 14, and Jasmine, 11, as well as her brother James, 20.

Christmas Day: from left to right. James, Jess, Marie-Claire, Kayla, Jasmine, Adriana, Carlos. Dani at the bottom (Jess Brandao)

Another key figure during the battle with cancer was Daniela's boyfriend Elliot. Jess added: "Elliot is Dani's boyfriend of three years. She passed away the day before their three-year anniversary, unfortunately. He stayed by her side the whole time and visited her as much as he could in hospital. He's basically part of the family."

Following Daniela's death, the teen's employer at the time of the diagnosis, Burger Joe's, set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the heartbroken family after her parents, Carlos and Marie-Claire, took months off work to help care for their family.

In the fundraiser, it said: "Dani was known to many for her contagious laugh, exceptional intelligence, quick-wit, cheeky nature and beauty - both inside and out. She was and always will be loved so unconditionally by all those lucky enough to experience her light.

"Our family will be eternally grateful for the loving support from those at The Christie/ Young Lives Vs Cancer; the incredibly kind words from relatives and friends; and the genuine love everyone has given to Dani and our family recently. It has meant the world to us all."

To read more or donate, click here.

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