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Tribute to brave Sarah, 19
A FAMILY have paid tribute to a brave teenager who lost a two-year battle with cancer.
Hartlepool girl Sarah Buglass died aged just 19 on Saturday morning, on her father Gary's 46th birthday.
Sarah was diagnosed with liver cancer in May 2008 after suffering unexplained symptoms, including a swollen abdomen.
Her GP carried out blood tests and after the doctor raised concerns, Sarah was diagnosed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, weeks later.
Despite having part of her liver removed, her family was told in April last year the cancer had returned and there was nothing more that could be done but make Sarah's last months as comfortable as possible.
Heartbroken Gary, an engineering manager from the Bishop Cuthbert area of town, said: "When Sarah was first diagnosed, it was devastating.
"But I suppose there was still hope that there was treatment to come."
Sarah, who used to go horse-riding at the Edenwell Centre, in Castle
Eden, had part of her liver removed during a six-hour operation at the RVI in July 2008.
Gary, who is married to Lynn, 45, a specialist nurse at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, said: "We wanted to believe that would be the answer.
"But the doubt was always there and it was a case of waiting to see what happened."
Sarah had a series of scans and medics tried a radio-ablution technique to zap the cancer cells, but sadly a scan in April last year revealed the tumour had returned.
Gary, who also has a son, Mark, 16, said: "By that time, it was apparent further surgery wasn't going to be effective.
"When we were told it was terminal, we asked if the doctor could give us an idea of how long Sarah might have and they said more than two months, probably a year.
"It was heartbreaking. We felt helpless, but we kept on going.
"It was then about keeping Sarah as comfortable as possible with tablets, patches, morphine infusion and later a spinal line."
Sarah had also suffered from Fragile X Syndrome, a form of autism, which had been detected when she was four years old.
Her family say a characteristic of this led to her saying hello to everyone she met, making her well-known in the town.
Gary said: "She had a great sense of humour and was really happy and caring.
"If anyone else was down she was always trying to cheer them up.
"The Fragile X became easier and easier for us to manage as Sarah matured.
"She was very friendly with everyone. She was mad about animals."
Sarah briefly attended Eldon Grove nursery before her Fragile X Syndrome diagnosis, but was taught at Beverley School, a specialist school for children with autism, in Middlesbrough, throughout her life.
Gary paid tribute to the paediatric oncology outreach nurses at the RVI.
Sarah's funeral will take place at 11am on Monday, at St Luke's Church, in Tunstall Avenue, Hartlepool, prior to cremation at Stranton Grange.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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