The dad of a teenage girl who "achieved legend status at the age of 15" has requested help to give her "one last send off".
Izzy O'Connor, 15, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 15 months ago after she began to experience pain in her knee. But after a brave battle, she sadly lost her life on July 15 after her body "gradually failed" due to complications.
But dad Terry wants to do something very special for the strong young girl who "smiled despite everything", but needs help doing so. At Everton's match on Saturday, which will be the day after Izzy's funeral, he wants fans to sing at the 15th minute "as loud and proud as possible", in memory of the "true blue" who loved going to games.
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He said: "There was only one Izzy O and it would be fitting if this could be sang as loud and proud as possible because she was a true blue." He wants the lines 'One Izzy O. There's only one Izzy O' to be sang.
Terry, from Burscough, told the ECHO that despite a good survival rate for the type of cancer she had, she sadly developed complications, including sepsis, and became "very poorly". He added: "Every corner turned, she was sick, the treatment wasn't working and if it looked like she was getting better, she would be wiped out again. It was a cycle, she was in hospital over Christmas and it looked like she was cured, but not quite."
But despite enduring brutal treatment over the last 15 months, Izzy, who was a "proper fighter", shared many incredible memories with her dad, many thanks to the Owen McVeigh Foundation. Terry said: "We were Everton fans and when she initially got discharged, the Owen McVeigh Foundation took her on a boat trip around Albert Dock, they are absolute legends. It wasn't just a boat trip, it made us realise you can still do everything normal, she was in wheelchair and they got us tickets for concerts and Comic Con."
But what really stayed home in the youngster's heart, was her love for Everton FC and last year, whatever game she could attend, she would. The request for fans to sing at the 15th minute would be a "fitting tribute" as Terri said: "Not just because she's my daughter, but because she achieved legend status at the age of 15."
Writing on social media, Terry has been trying to spread the word to get as many people involved as possible. He wrote: "I'm trying to reach out to all the fellow Blues out there. I'll be attending the match on Saturday without my mate.
"The amount of fight she put up over the last 15 months was unreal, and she gives us the strength as a family to move forward. Some of her best moments were at Goodison last season where she stood for the full 90 minutes of the Man Utd game screaming away in the Gwladys Street. Everton football club have been great, but I'm pushing for something more.
"It may be a long shot but those who knew Izzy, know she did things her way and as a final tribute the day after her funeral I'd like everyone to spread the word that on the 15th minute we sing like we did at the end of last season when Everton's future depended on it. There was only one Izzy O and it would be fitting if this could be sang as loud and proud as possible because she was a true blue.
"'One Izzy O. There's only one Izzy O'. Please share this post on all the forums and friends you know, let's give Izzy one last send off."
Currently, Terry said it is not yet known what exactly caused the 15-year-old's death, but that when she died, she did not have evidence of leukaemia. He told the ECHO: "She was a proper fighter, everyone knew her as unbelievable, she even surprised a lot doctors.
"She didn't have leukaemia when she died, the transplant worked and that's even more devastating. Her life was cut short. But she was just amazing.
"Even though she was going through the worst time, she was so strong. One medical professional said she was the most resilient patients he had seen in 40 years of working. She's be lying there in agony, looking nine-months pregnant, in a lot of pain but smiled.
"She smiled away at concerns and we've got all of those memories. She even tried to get me to take her to a nightclub, she was like dad just come on."
Despite being in hospital over Christmas, Izzy was out for New Year's Eve, but found herself back in hospital in May. Terry added: "I'd love for people to get behind the Owen McVeigh Foundation, the stuff they did was fantastic. It was about creating memories and they helped us have so many. It wasn't even about the events, it was about getting her out of the house."
More information about the foundation can be found online here. Everton are due to play on Saturday with a kick off time of 5.30pm.
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