A SCHOOLGIRL who defied doctors’ predictions to battle a rare form of liver cancer for 18 months has been remem-bered by her family.

Sixteen-year-old Chloe Oldfield, from Barnoldswick, who had been diagnosed with hepatacellular carcinoma, was told by medics she only had six months to live.

But she courageously fought on to achieve top grades in two GCSEs, despite undergoing painful chemotherapy.

Chloe lost her brave battle for life, with parents Catherine and Philip at her bedside in the family’s West Craven home.

Now Mr and Mrs Oldfield, and her Chloe’s brother Henry, 14, have paid warm tributes to the former Skipton High School student.

Mrs Oldfield said: “She was our strength, so determined and so very courageous throughout.

"People ask us how we cope, but we coped because she coped.

“She never gave in. Even at the end she was still fighting.”

Chloe was first diagnosed with the condition in March 2007 and underwent chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Towards the end of her treatment she suffered liver failure and was later given a transplant in Leeds.

Months later, though, x-rays showed shadows on her lungs and she developed a brain tumour.

An operation was performed to remove the growth but a second developed shortly afterwards.

It was then her family decided to organise a bumper 15th birthday for Chloe.

She partied with her friends and three days later joined them at a Girls Aloud concert.

“She was very determined and never gave in to her illness,” added Mrs Oldfield.

The family has paid tribute to staff at St James Hospital, Leeds, her Macmillan nurse Eileen Hupton and GPs in Earby who treated her.

Chloe’s funeral is at All Saints’ Church, Earby, on Tuesday at 1.30pm, followed by burial at Ghyll Cemetery and a reception at the Rolls-Royce Leisure Club.

Before she died Chloe said she wanted any money raised in donations to be split between the Bosom Friends cancer support group and the Local Charities Support Group.

An account has been set up at the Yorkshire Bank for anyone wishing to donate - Chloe’s Chosen Charities’ Fund, sort code 05-02-22, account number: 36161050.

She also composed a special tribute to the donor for her liver transplant, which will be relayed at her funeral.