Wednesday 8 June 2022 07:28 PM Girl, 14, died weeks after posing for her school prom photo when she lost ... trends now

A dad has spoken out about the tragic death of his teenage daughter just six weeks after she posed for her school prom photo.

Connie Holmes, from Bilton-in-Ainsty, a district of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer at just 14 years old.

Tony said he couldn't 'begin to describe' the grief after his daughter Connie died.

Connie had started to experience pain in the left side of her body one day and eventually stopped being able to use her hand.

She was sent to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) by her GP and was eventually diagnosed with aggressive and rare cancer Ewing's Sarcoma, which occurs in bones or the soft tissues around them. 

Tony, a retired social worker, said: 'You can't begin to describe the grief when a child dies. It's a haze and blur. You just stumble through from one day to the next. 

'To have nice things to look back on is so important - special moments, special memories, that keep them alive in your heart.'

When Connie was referred to the LGI, an MRI located a significant 'swelling' in her neck.

'We were initially told that it was likely to be benign, but that she'd need to have surgery immediately and would be on the operating table for at least 12 hours,' Tony, 59, remembered.

'Connie just went white with fear. After that her oncologist came to see us and told us, as calmly and gently as possible, that it was unlikely to be benign.'

The surgery confirmed Connie's tumour was malevolent. She was then rushed into several rounds of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Connie was then referred to Make-A-Wish, which facilitated a trip to Paris with her dad, mum Judith, and little brother Harvey in October 2014. Tragically, Connie relapsed not much later and died in August 2015.

Tony said: 'Connie always loved musicals, and Les Misérables was her favourite. She just wanted to visit Paris and specifically to have dinner in the Eiffel Tower.