TOWIE's Amy Childs' cousin's baby daughter dies after battling aggressive brain tumour
The Only Way Is Essex's Amy Childs has said that her cousin, Hannah Brincat's baby daughter Lila, has died after battling an aggressive brain tumour.
The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs has revealed her cousin's baby daughter died aged 11 months after battling an aggressive brain tumour.
Just three weeks after Lila was born last September, she was diagnosed with Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumour (AT/RT) - a rare and rapidly growing Grade 4 tumour found in the brain or spinal cord of children aged three and younger.
But on September 5, 2026, Hannah Brincat's bundle of joy lost her battle, leaving her family heartbroken.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the National Television Awards at London's The O2 arena on Tuesday night (08.09.26), Amy, 26, said: "She passed away, bless her. I only found out on Instagram a couple of days ago.
"It's really sad."
Hannah announced Lila's death on a JustGiving crowdfunding page set up to help support her daughter.
She said: "Lila Aimee Rose Brincat 25/09/2025 – 05/09/2026.
"It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our perfect Lila. 346 days 8,304 hours 498,240 minutes Numbers can count the time we had you, but nothing can ever measure the depth of our love for you.
"We will cherish your memory, speak your name, and hold you in our hearts in every minute, hour, and day ahead.
"Our miracle girl. You changed our world forever. Until we meet again, our precious, beautiful Lila, we love you infinitely. (sic)"
Explaining Lila's story, Hannah previously wrote: "Our beautiful little Lila is only 5 months old and been through more in her little life than any adult we know. Our brave girl, our little lion cub.
"Lila was diagnosed at 3 weeks old with ATRT - a rare and aggressive brain tumour.
"She underwent 9 hour brain surgery at just 3 weeks old, and started chemotherapy at just 5 weeks old. (sic)"
Heartbreakingly, an MRI showed the tumour had returned despite "six rounds of chemotherapy", and Lila's family were informed that "treatment would not continue and we were out of options".
Hannah continued: "We lived in hospital for 4 months separated from our 3 other children and have been living in a children’s hospice for 2 weeks. Our lives have been turned upside down and we are devastated.
"We’ve reached out to an Oncologist in Toronto, who is leading on research in ATRT, for a second opinion on Lila.
"We have no idea if there are any options for us, what they could be and how much it might cost us.
"The target is therefore completely random - but if by some miracle, they come through with something for us to try and it comes down to finances, we need to be prepared. Time is not on our side. (sic)"
At the time of publication, £27,455 has been raised of their £30,000 target, and Hannah stressed that people's generous donations "will not go to waste".
She concluded: "If our efforts don’t pay off, your donations will be given generously to the lovely charities who have supported us during this time."
Hannah thanked those who had donated, saying on February 27: "For some reason, it is not letting me send individual thank yous so I thought I would create this update instead.
"Your donations mean the world, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If love, prayers and support could save our Lila - she would be just fine.
"Now we need a medical miracle, because our brave girl is up for the fight. (sic)"
To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lilaourlioncub?utm_medium=CF utm_source=TT.
