The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs has revealed that her cousin's 11-month-old daughter, Lila Aimee Rose Brincat, has died following a battle with a rare brain tumour.
Childs, 36, confirmed the sad news at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night, explaining that she had learned of the baby's passing through social media several days earlier.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the awards ceremony, Childs said: "She passed away, bless her. I only found out on Instagram a couple of days ago. It's really sad."
Lila's mother, Hannah Brincat, announced her daughter's death on a JustGiving crowdfunding page that had been established to support the family. Lila was born on September 25, 2025, and died on September 5, 2026.
In a statement published on the fundraising page, Brincat wrote: "Lila Aimee Rose Brincat 25/09/2025 to 05/09/2026. It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our perfect Lila. 346 days 8,304 hours 498,240 minutes Numbers can count the time we had you, but nothing can ever measure the depth of our love for you."
Brincat added: "We will cherish your memory, speak your name, and hold you in our hearts in every minute, hour, and day ahead. Our miracle girl. You changed our world forever. Until we meet again, our precious, beautiful Lila, we love you infinitely."
Diagnosis and medical treatment
Lila was diagnosed with an Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumour (AT/RT) last September when she was just three weeks old.
AT/RT is a very rare, fast-growing, and highly aggressive cancerous tumour that develops in the brain and spinal cord of children aged three and younger. Central nervous system tumours of this type present severe clinical challenges in infants because of their rapid growth and the sensitive nature of developing brain tissue.
Following her diagnosis at three weeks old, Lila underwent a nine-hour brain surgery and began chemotherapy treatment at five weeks old.
Writing on the crowdfunding page when Lila was five months old, Brincat described her daughter as having been through more in her short life than any adult the family knew, calling her "our brave girl, our little lion cub."
Despite Lila completing six rounds of chemotherapy, a subsequent MRI scan revealed that the tumour had returned. Doctors informed the family that treatment would not continue and that medical options had been exhausted.
The family spent four months living in hospital separated from their three other children, followed by two weeks in a children's hospice as they coped with Lila's condition.
Fundraising campaign and specialist search
In an effort to save Lila's life, her family reached out to an oncologist in Toronto who leads research into AT/RT to seek a second opinion.
Brincat explained on the JustGiving page that the original £30,000 fundraising target was set to ensure the family would be financially prepared if specialist treatment options became available in Canada.
Childs had previously used her public platform in March to boost the fundraising effort, sharing a screenshot of her cousin's JustGiving campaign with her one million Instagram followers and appealing for donations and shares.
At the time, Childs wrote: "Please, if you can, help support my cousin's beautiful daughter Lila. She's fighting so hard and every donation makes a difference. Even sharing this means a lot. Thank you all so much."
Donations and legacy
The fundraising campaign has raised £27,454.80 toward its £30,000 target. Brincat assured supporters that all donated funds would be used meaningfully.
Brincat stated that if medical efforts did not succeed, the collected funds would be donated generously to the charitable organisations that supported the family throughout Lila's treatment and hospice care.
Childs first gained public prominence in 2010 as an original cast member of the British reality television series The Only Way Is Essex. The ITV show documents the personal and professional lives of individuals living in Essex, England.
The National Television Awards is an annual British broadcasting ceremony held at the O2 Arena in London, celebrating popular television programmes and personalities.
