Daughter kissed father goodbye after her ‘tooth abscess’ turned out to be cancer

October 27, 2016

Ken Pratt, 52, said his daughter Megan told him ‘I love you’ before she died
When her cheek began swelling it was thought she had a tooth abscess
However tests later revealed the 13-year-old had a malignant tumour
Mr Pratt, a delivery driver, said he felt ’empty and lost’ since her death

Thomas Burrows for MailOnline

Published:
09:09 EST, 25 October 2016

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Updated:
11:01 EST, 25 October 2016

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A heartbroken father has revealed how his daughter told him ‘I love you’ and kissed him goodbye after her ‘tooth abscess’ turned out to be cancer.

Megan Pratt’s left cheek began swelling shortly before Christmas and initially it was thought she had a simple tooth abscess.

However tests later revealed she had a malignant tumour and she died on September 29.

Her devastated father, Ken, said his ‘stubborn little madame’ had bravely battled everything that was thrown at her and he now felt ’empty and lost’.

Ken Pratt, 52, said he felt ’empty and lost’ since the death of his 13-year-old daughter, Megan

She was told she had cancer in February and took the news ‘positively and with determination’

Recalling his final tender embrace with his 13-year-old daughter, the delivery driver said: ‘On the Thursday morning, the day she died, Megan puckered her lips.

‘She said to me “I love you” and those were Megan’s last words – we are all felt absolutely devastated, empty and lost.’

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Football-mad Megan’s battle began just before Christmas 2015 when the left side of her face began to swell.

Her parents thought she had a tooth abscess so took her to the dentist.

‘It was just a tiny, little lump,’ said Mr Pratt. ‘She went to the dentist, who sent her to the doctor, then back to the dentist.

‘She was eventually seen by doctors at Hull Royal Infirmary, who sent a sample to Leeds General Infirmary.’

However in February the family were given the shattering news Megan had cancer.

Mr Pratt, 52, said: ‘Megan took the news like she took everything else – positively and with determination.

‘She turned to us and said, “Right then, is that it? Can we go for the bone scan?”

‘Her attitude was always “we will beat this” – she embraced everything that was thrown at her.’

Hull City players and supporters chanted Megan’s name and gave her a minute’s applause following her death

He added: ‘From the off, Megan took interest in her treatment. She was very intelligent and she researched the condition – and she attended every meeting.

‘She handled everything really well.’

He recalled how she shared a touching selfie with him, which she captioned ‘my dad is my world. Him and my mum are my everything and I love you both to absolute pieces.’

Mr Pratt, 52, recalled how his daughter told him ‘I love you’ before she passed away

In June the 13-year-old was well enough to return to school at Wolfreton School in Hull following a 16-hour surgery to remove the tumour and her family hoped she was heading towards remission.

But only three months later Megan was told the cancer had spread and she was going to die.

Mr Pratt said: ‘Megan was the best she’d looked for ages.

‘We’d been laughing and joking as we went into the meeting and we were expecting to be told she was heading towards remission.

‘But they told us the cancer had spread all over her body.’

Two weeks later, on September 29, she passed away.

Hundreds packed into the Chanterlands Crematorium in Hull for her funeral, while Hull City players and supporters came together for a minute’s applause at the KCOM Stadium.