Articles
May 29 2010 Lachlan Mackinnon
A SCOTS actor has spoken of his heartache after his 15-year-old daughter died from a rare form of cancer.
Gordon Brown, who appeared in Take The High Road, Still Game and Valhalla Rising, lost daughter Eilidh to Germ Cell Cancer.
The 38-year-old has now enlisted the help of actor friend Billy Boyd and Jon Fratelli from The Fratellis, who have agreed to play at a charity gig in Eilidh's memory.
And her aunt, Bad Girls star Simone Lahbib, has been instrumental in setting up the Eilidh Brown Trust Fund.
The teenager, from Stirling, who passed away in March, collapsed on a school trip aged 14 in February last year.
At first it was thought she had been suffering from dehydration but a scan revealed a tumour the size of a small melon had attached itself to her ovaries.
The tumour was removed along with Eilidh's left ovary in February last year and tests showed it was malignant.
It was also discovered Eilidh had a form of Turners Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder which occurs in one out of 2000 girls. It meant she was more likely to be predisposed to Germ Cell Cancer.
However, doctors told Gordon and wife Nicole, 37, it carried a 90 per cent chance of recovery, going so far as to describe it as "good cancer".
The couple, who have two other children Hannah, 13, and 10-year-old Lewis, thought they were "out the woods" as Eilidh seemed to respond to regular chemotherapy.
But further tests taken in June 2009 showed the cancer had returned.
Even still, Eilidh was given a 70 to 80 per cent of recovery.
But the cancer grew more aggressive and in November 2009, Gordon and Nicole were given the news they had been dreading.
Told her condition was terminal, Eilidh was given just a few weeks to live.
Specialists told Gordon to ask her if she wanted to continue treatment.
He said: "The doctor told us it was highly unlikely Eilidh would survive but he did say there was always a chance, no matter how small.
"He asked me to ask her if she wanted to continue and we all agreed we had to go on fighting. I remember Eilidh saying to me, 'Don't let me die, daddy', and I knew we had to keep going.
"We all moved into Yorkhill Children's Hospital and stayed there for two weeks before she passed away.
"She baffled the doctors by lasting so long and in the end they all said they had seen nothing like it.
"They said she would never regain consciousness but she woke up and told us she loved us.
"Her last words were 'I love you'." He added: "The odds were against Eilidh. The doctors did all they could.
"My daughter was in absolute agony and the senior nurse told us she couldn't think of a family going through so much.
"I've had trouble trying to make sense of it all but I'm focusing on doing something for charity to remember her by.
"I have known Billy Boyd from when we studied drama together in Glasgow and he had no hesitation in getting involved.
"I don't know Jon from The Fratellis but I wrote him a letter and he said no problem.
"Eilidh loved The Fratellis, so it's great that he's agreed to take part.
"We're planning to stage the gig at Stirling University and I'm working on dates at the moment. A few actor friends have also said they want to help, which is great."
Mum Nicole paid tribute to her daughter.
Nicole said: "Eilidh was an inspiration to everyone.
"She stopped her friends from coming to see her at the hospital to protect them from what she was going through.
"Eilidh always thought of others and wanted the best for her family and friends.
"I remember her telling me to make sure her wee brother and sister did their homework and stuck in at school."
Eilidh's aunt Simone, 45, said: "We will never stop loving Eilidh and will never forget her.
"She showed such tremendous bravery and wisdom throughout her ordeal and inspired everyone who came into contact with her. "Eilidh was the most extraordinary, loving, sweet, faithful and brave young girl, who always thought of others before herself."
The website address for Eilidh is www.eilidhbrown.co.uk
© The Daily Record