A BRAVE daughter who always thought of everybody else – despite enduring gruelling treatment for two brain tumours – has passed away in her mother's arms.
Casey McGovern, from Cleethorpes, underwent intensive chemotherapy and countless operations to try to remove the two tumours that developed on her brain, but they were unsuccessful.
And knowing she had just weeks to live, Casey – who was diagnosed with a brain tumour four years ago – wrapped Christmas presents for her family and friends and planned to celebrate this weekend.
But, sadly, there will be no celebration, instead, her family and friends will today be attending the 23-year-old's funeral.
She passed away at her home in Thornton Crescent, Cleethorpes, last Thursday in the arms of her mum, Donna Martinez, and with her dad, sister and grandmother by her side.
Donna said: "Casey never once moaned about her condition but her biggest fear was losing control of her body, which is what happened in the end.
"Up until a few weeks ago she was still the life and soul of the party.
"She refused to let being ill get her down and loved going out with her friends."
Born in Grimsby, Casey attended St Joseph's and Lindsey schools and was the resort's last ever Miss Victoria Rose carnival queen.
Aged 12, she moved to Spain with her family where she trained as a hairdresser with Toni & Guy and also completed qualifications in beauty therapy. She hoped to work on cruise ships as soon as she turned 21. She returned to Cleethorpes four years ago, aged 19, when she began suffering from painful headaches.
Donna, 42, said: "She'd banged her head while she was messing around with her friends and then she started getting these awful headaches.
"She was in so much pain but doctors couldn't find any reason for it.
"It wasn't until her sister took her to A&E one night when she was screaming and writhing around in pain that they discovered she had a bleed on the brain."
Casey was transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary where scans revealed she had a tumour at the rear of her brain.
Having been told there was nothing more doctors could do to help her, Casey attended a seminar on brain tumours and stood up and confronted medics who said sufferers would only live four years.
"She told them she'd already had two tumours for two years and was only meant to have lived for one," added Donna.
"One of the professors took her under his wing and arranged for her to be treated at a hospital in Birmingham.
"He told her she actually had a few weeks to live and began operating to take the tumours away.
"Casey was so funny because she treated having brain surgery like an appointment at the dentist, but then she booked herself in to have a tattoo after each milestone and was absolutely terrified of that!"
Donna, who describes the pain of losing her daughter as "raw", says Casey loved all things girly and would spend hours perfecting her hair and make-up.
She added: "Through all of the treatment she was always thinking about other people.
"She even found me a boyfriend and made sure I had a birthday party, even though it was the last thing on my mind.
"She'd wrapped presents for everybody ready for our Christmas on Saturday, but I can't bear to go into her room at the moment.
"We'll open them on Christmas Day now but it won't be the same without her here."
A funeral will take place at Grimsby Crematorium today at 2.20pm. This will be followed by a celebration of Casey's life at No 1 Pub, in Cleethorpes.
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