A SCHOOLGIRL who died from a brain tumour after being repeatedly told all she had was a virus will be honoured by her mum. 

Jenna Langlands passed away aged 13 in 2009, after starting to become unwell a few years earlier.

Her mum, Julie Johnston, is now working with Brain Tumour Research charity and will be taking on a star jumping challenge to raise vital funds.

Glasgow Times:

The 53-year-old said: “In 2004, Jenna started being sick a lot and she had bags under her eyes. I took her to the GP on several occasions but each time he said it was because of a viral infection or migraines.

“He eventually told me to get Jenna’s eyes checked but they were fine. She would be okay for a few weeks but would then be really sick again, and this cycle kept on going.”

In August 2004, Jenna’s dad, David Langlands, collected her for the weekend but called Julie minutes later to say Jenna was “talking gobbledygook”.

Glasgow Times:

He took her to Yorkhill Hospital.

Julie, a travel agent from Clydebank, said: “We were again told Jenna had a viral infection, but I knew there was something else going on. I refused to leave the hospital until Jenna had a scan.

“Jenna went to the toilet at the hospital, but she couldn’t get out. A doctor saw the state she was in and said he was immediately taking her for observation. I was so grateful to him for listening to me.”

Glasgow Times:

Jenna had a CT scan which revealed she had a brain tumour.

“I just felt numb, but I knew that there was no time to crumble. I had to be a mum and I needed to be strong, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without the support of our families,” Julie said.

Jenna was transferred to Southern General Hospital in the middle of the night. She needed to have a shunt inserted to drain excess fluid from her brain.

Glasgow Times:

Two weeks later, she underwent a second operation to remove the tumour, but surgeons could only remove part of it.

The brave schoolgirl underwent six weeks of radiotherapy which caused her to be very sick and lose some of her hair.

Towards the end of summer 2008, Jenna’s condition deteriorated.

Julie added: “Her face fell to one side and her walk became more of a stagger. She ended up having to use a wheelchair, but she still went to school because she didn’t want to miss anything.

"By December, she was struggling to get out of bed, and it was very difficult for her to get in and out of the bath.”

Glasgow Times:

On January 17, 2009, Jenna died at home with her loving family by her side.

Now, Julie is taking on the 100 Squats or Star Jumps a Day in November Challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

She said: “The statistics for brain tumours are shocking and so little funding is given towards this devastating disease. I’ve met so many other children who, like Jenna, have brain tumours and it really saddens me. More must be done so other families don’t have to go through what we have.”

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, added: “We’re really grateful to Julie for taking part in the challenge, as it’s only with the support of people like her that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Jenna who are forced to fight this awful disease.

“I would encourage anyone who is able to take part in the challenge to do so. Not only is it fun, but it gets you fit whilst raising vital funds to help find a cure for brain tumours.”

To donate to Julie’s fundraising page, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Julie-Johnston9.