'She makes me proud every day' - Liz Hatton's mum

The family of teenage photographer Liz Hatton have returned to the ward where she was treated before her death to thank the team who cared for her.

Liz, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, died in November from desmoplastic small round cell tumour aged 17.

She spent the last months of her life pursuing a photography bucket list, that led her to meet the Princess of Wales and work with the photographer Rankin.

During the visit to Leeds Children's Hospital, her mum, Vicky Robayna spoke of her ongoing pride in her daughter, in particular her desire to donate her body to medical research.

She explained how, in order to achieve her goal, Liz had had to force herself to eat to ensure she had the required body mass index.

"Every time she ate it made her feel violently sick and despite that she ate until the very last day," she said.

"She was an expert in the highest calorie food for the smallest amount of effort. Apple crumble and Spanish croquettes were the food of choice."

Oncology outreach nurse Gabi Reynolds, who treated the teenager, said: "She would force herself to eat even in those final days. She was so brave and she wanted to make a difference."

Dr Bob Phillips, a consultant in paediatric oncology at Leeds Children's Hospital, who also treated Liz, said he had never had a young person in his care want to donate their body before.

Vicky said Ward 31 at the hospital had become Liz's second home and gave her confidence that despite being unwell she could live fully.

She said: "Liz was dealt the worst hand with her diagnosis, but she was dealt the best hand with where she ended up."

In her final weeks, Liz was given opportunities to work with photographers such as Rankin, Gareth Cattermole and Richard Heathcote.

A week before she died, an exhibition of Liz's work was held in London and on 1 February many of the photographs were sold at auction to raise money for charity.

Her goal was to raise awareness of her condition and celebrate the healthcare professionals and charities who supported her, Vicky said.

She added: "Once she had met the princess and the press were interested, right from then she was thinking about how to make a difference.

"And then every interview we went into, she was wanted to mention a charity or person who helped her.

"She makes me proud every day, still."

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