A Dundee teenager who fought a long and courageous battle with cancer has died in hospital with his family by his side.
Christopher Howie, who was 18, was receiving palliative care at Ninewells Hospital when he passed away, just months after being told that nothing more could be done to treat the disease.
His aunt Maggie Keddie (51), of Kirkton, said, “We were all so proud of him. He fought right to the end. He was such a cheeky laddie, he was always smiling and didn’t let anything get him down.
“He was on crutches but he was so independent. He was always on the go.
“He took it one day at a time. We are all really proud of him.”
Christopher, who lost his mum Mandy six years ago after she suffered a heart attack, was just 10 years old when he was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy, he also underwent an operation to amputate his leg to stop the cancer from spreading.
Tragically, in January, Christopher and his family including brother William (17) and sister Kirstie (16) were given the news they were dreading when doctors told them the cancer had returned in his lungs.
Maggie continued, “He fought right up to the end, until the last moments. He even got up to wash himself that morning.
“He was slipping in and out of consciousness all day but he knew we were there.”