In memory and celebration of a very special girl

Orla Olivia Tuckwell was born on 11th December 2020 – the 3rd daughter in our family of five, and little sister to Ava and Poppy. Orla was perfect and she was the missing piece to our puzzle.

Her nickname was the boss baby, and she earnt it. She was a bossy little miss with a heart of gold; she knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it, but she was just so loving and caring at the same time. She had the most beautiful brown eyes that would grab you instantly and melt your heart.

In September 2022, when she was just 21 months old, Orla was diagnosed with a brain tumour – a high-risk medulloblastoma with a very rare sub-type. She was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she went through surgery, months of intense chemotherapy and a severe case of sepsis that nearly took her from us in March 2023. She overcame it all, and in April 2023 she had a clear scan and rang the end of treatment bell.

In July 2023 Orla's cancer returned, and there were no more treatment options. We took her home to spend as much time together as a family as possible. She passed away on 12th August 2023, surrounded by her family, at the age of 2 years, 8 months and 1 day.

Some of the simplest memories make us smile and cry instantly:

• making Orla toast at 6am, as that was all she wanted to eat during and after treatment
• watching her throw bread for the ducks on our walks by the river, making quack quack sounds
• watching her play for hours in the playhouse at the end of the garden, making pretend tea and cakes for her sisters and grandparents

All we want to do is talk about them and say their name out loud, to remind others and the world that they were here, maybe not for long, but they lived, they're loved and they matter.Adam, Orla's dad

Wording drawn from Adam's own words (GOSH Evening of Thanks speech) and the family's story on Brain Tumour Research. [PLACEHOLDER – Adam to approve this wording and the memories shown]