A teenager tragically died just one week after being told she was cancer-free. Hannah Riddell, 17, had been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer affecting the lymphatic system, after discovering a golf ball-sized lump under her arm in August 2024.

Following six rounds of chemotherapy, she was informed she was in remission, prompting her family to plan a celebratory trip to Mallorca. However, their joy was short-lived as Hannah's condition suddenly deteriorated, and she passed away seven days later from suspected sepsis.

Her mother, Jill Mitcheson, recounted the devastating moment: "Her dad and I were holding her hand and I knew she was gone. It was just surreal, like it was not really happening and she was going to wake up it happened so quickly, there was no warning."

Jill added: "It was just the cruellest thing ever. Her whole life had been on hold. It was just the most devastating thing that could possibly happen."

The family's nightmare began when Hannah discovered the lump after a dinner with friends on August 10 last year. Jill recalled: "We were sitting in the garden because it was a nice sunny evening and she came down from her bedroom into the garden and said "mum I need to tell you something, reports the Mirror.

"""My heart dropped and I thought, teenage girl, she better not be bloody pregnant. So I came into the kitchen and she said "mum, I've got a lump under my arm" and when we looked at the lump it was the same as the size of a golf ball. It appeared very quickly."

The next morning, Hannah was examined by a hospital doctor and underwent an ultrasound, followed by a biopsy.

Jill, 44, remembered: "When they were sat in the ultrasound I saw them start to measure all the lumps there were quite a lot of them and I think it was at that moment I knew there was something not right about this."

The family was hit with the heartbreaking news that it was Hodgkin's lymphoma and a second scan showed it was at stage 4B, indicating the cancer had spread to various organs. The cancer was found throughout her neck, extending through her torso and down to her groin.

Jill, from Ashington, Northumberland, shared: "Hannah took the news better than anybody else. She just got on with it she never wanted any pity."

Despite her diagnosis, Hannah managed to finish school at Ashington Academy Northumberland and had plans to start a travel and tourism course at Newcastle College. However, her plans were put on hold following the cancer diagnosis.

On August 21, Hannah started the first of six rounds of chemotherapy at Royal Victoria Infirmary. She suffered several infections during her chemotherapy rounds and at one point was 'vomiting the entire time'.

Kieron Stokoe, 18, Hannah's devoted boyfriend, was by her side throughout, providing comfort and support. The family's joy was short-lived, as after being told Hannah was in remission on January 7, she returned to hospital for routine tests on January 14, looking pale and repeatedly being sick.

Her breathing became laboured, she seemed to have a seizure, and cried out in agonising pain from her legs, which had become so severe her mum couldn't even touch her.

Following another fit, an emergency team rushed to her side. Jill recounted the harrowing event: "Her eyes were rolling back in her head she was panicking. Her breathing was really laboured and she was really struggling."

Soon after, Hannah was moved to critical care.

Jill continued: "At this point, I knew she was ill, but they never said critical and I never for one minute thought we were going to lose her. Some time passed, maybe an hour, and nobody said anything, and then a nurse came into the room and shut the door, and she had tears in her eyes."

"She sat down and she said "I'm sorry Hannah is gone. " I was confused because at no point was it mentioned that she had stopped breathing, her heart had stopped, anything. I looked at her in disbelief and I said "what do you mean she's gone?

"""She said "I'm sorry.

About 55 minutes ago, her heart stopped and she stopped breathing and we've been trying to resuscitate her all this time and I'm so sorry but she's gone". I said "I need to see her, I need to see her now. "".

Jill and Hannah's father Michael were quickly taken into the critical care unit, where medical staff were still performing 'brutal' heart compressions on Hannah. Jill admitted that she 'knew she was gone'.

In a touching tribute to her daughter, Jill revealed: "She has always been older than her age. She has always been very wise. She was always very chatty, she talked very, very quickly at a very young age."

"She never really changed. She was always like that. She was like a second mother to her younger brother. She was so caring."

The family has since started a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised £4,595 out of a £5,000 target, to give Hannah a 'good funeral' and to 'let her know what a fantastic person she was and just how many people loved her'.

More than £3,500 has already been donated. The family is currently waiting for the results of an inquest to determine why Hannah passed away.

Jill expressed: "It's massively helped not just financially but just keeping us going, knowing how many people care for us as a family, for Hannah."

"Even in how cruel this whole situation is, it just gives me some kind of comfort from the fact that so many people cared and are willing to help and it really has eased this whole situation."