BRAVE Amy Howarth is "enjoying every single day" – a year after doctors gave her just six months to live.
Amy was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour last year.
Now she has thanked staff at a hospice that has helped her keep her independence.
Doctors told the 20-year-old she had an aggressive brain tumour in April 2013 and she has been visiting Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People ever since.
"I live for today and tomorrow is a bonus," said Amy. "I was independent and everything was fine. Then this happened and my world came crashing down. I was gutted. The hardest thing is knowing my mum and dad are upset.
"The hardest thing is seeing my mum and dad cry, knowing that I am not going to be there. I know I could go any time. I want to tell people to not take life for granted and enjoy every single day."
Amy put the initial symptoms down to clumsiness: "A week before my diagnosis, I was in my kitchen and I dropped my purse and couldn't pick it up," she explained. "Then I walked into a door. I thought I was just being clumsy but my mum said I had to go to the doctor."
Amy has glyoblastoma multiform wildtype grade 4, a brain tumour attached to her major nerves meaning that her spinal chord is inoperable. "It all happened so fast."
Amy says going to Rainbows Hospice allows her a chance to be herself and for her family to take a break from caring for her. "It's different scenery and I've become good friends with some of the staff. They are not just workers to me, they're so much more."
Staff at Rainbows take Amy shopping and to walk her six-month-old British bulldog Roxy.
"They've really kept me going," Amy said. "I have my independence there and that's so important to me. I just hope that I can spread the message of what they do so they can continue to help other people."
Amy's mum Jo, 53, said: "She can't go out on her own so Rainbows is brilliant for giving her that different environment.
"She goes shopping, swimming and does arts and crafts. Ever since the diagnosis we've tried to keep her active and Rainbows has really helped."
Amy has had intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But medication drains her energy and she changed from a size 10 to a size 28 in months.
"When we got the diagnosis it really hit us for six," said Jo. "She's been fighting and fighting and we keep setting her goals."
Her nephew Ryan celebrates his third birthday on Monday and Amy hopes to go to the party and make her own 21st on September 11.
Amy said: "Rainbows is now my world and it is so important they get funding to help others like me.I would encourage people to donate if they can."
