Parents hope to give little daughter Octavia a final 'princess' send-off

For almost two years after a devastating diagnosis, little Octavia Cook brought joy, laughter and kindness to everyone around her, defying the odds at every step.

- by Dennis Morton

Born prematurely at 29 weeks, the Leeds girl faced developmental challenges from the start. When her parents, Adam and Elysée, noticed her eye beginning to drift, they voiced concerns to their GP - but were reassured multiple times.

A year later, when her eyes became completely crossed, doctors referred her for an MRI.

"They thought it was a condition with the muscle in the back of her eye," Adam told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Instead, the scan revealed an aggressive brain tumour.

In September 2023, aged just four, Octavia was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma and given nine to 12 months to live.

"You go straight into grief," Adam said.