S'pore girl dies after long battle with cancer

Six-year-old Singaporean girl Charmaine Lim has lost her battle with cancer.

The girl, who had been battling advanced neuroblastoma, died last Friday. Charmaine rose to national attention after her case was reported in The New Paper in 2009 and funds and well-wishes started pouring in.

Although initially appearing relieved that her daughter did not have to suffer any longer, Charmaine's mother, Cynthia Lim, admitted on her blog on Saturday that reality is slowly setting in.

"'Ma ma misses you so much... So much today... I can't stop crying... I think the reality is slowly hitting me..." wrote Lim.

Charmaine was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a common type of extracranial cancer in infancy, when she was just four years old.

On 13 February 2009, Lim brought her daughter to the hospital for a check after she discovered Charmaine's right rib cage protruding slightly higher than her left, and thought something may be amiss.

To her horror, the result of the scan made Charmaine an urgent case for doctors, and that she was seriously ill.

Throughout the ordeal, Lim clung on tightly to her faith that Charmaine would get better. Together with Charmaine's godmother, she set up a blog to inform their friends and family of Charmaine's condition, and their need to gather funds to help in her cancer treatment.

The blog became very popular over the Internet, drawing in people who did not know Charmaine to send their words of encouragement and to offer donations.

The night before Charmaine let go of her pain, Lim wrote in a blog post, asking for the heavens to have mercy on her daughter.

"Heavens, please have mercy on my child. Please. I don't want her to suffer anymore... Free her and let her be the happy girl she has always been..."

And hours after that post, Charmaine finally gave up the fight.

After Charmaine's passing, many people have left kind messages on her Facebook group, which has almost 9,000 members.

"Charmaine has motivated and touched many people's hearts including ours. You will always be loved. Dear Cyn, the road to healing will not be easy but please hang on and do not give up! We will be rooting for you!" said Elaine Chua.

Another member of the group, Tay York Koon added, "Dear Char, you don't know who I am. But you have touched my heart. I believe you are happily watching us from above. Watch after your great mummy and brother. Fly high. Fly freely. You will be missed."

Charmaine's funeral will be on Sunday after a three-day wake, where it was a celebration of her life, and strong will to live.

"It is a celebration of Charmaine's life. Do come dressed in her favourite colors -- yellow, pink or green or anything rainbow," wrote Lim on the blog.