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<\/p>\nCourageous and caring Grace Measor, 19, from Hartlepool, wrote letters to her family before she died aged just 19, telling them to ‘go and live your life for me’<\/p>\n
Grace Measor who tragically lost her battle on Friday(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n
The heartbroken parents of a Hartlepool teen who died after a long and bravely fought battle with leukaemia have described her as “a gift to the world.” Grace Measor died on Friday, due to complications following a stem cell transplant.<\/p>\n
The caring 19-year-old had written letters to her family and friends to be opened in the event of her death, urging them to live their lives to the fullest and telling them “it’s okay”. They are bringing huge comfort to dad Graeme, mum Nichola and sister Sophie, 17, as they try to come to terms with their tragic loss.<\/p>\n
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2017, Grace’s initial treatment was successful and she went on to achieve greatly at school, college and university before training to be a scientist with Johnson Mathey. Graeme and Nichola said she had wanted to travel the world and work in research and development into renewables.<\/p>\n
“Basically she wanted to save the planet,” said mum Nichola, 51, an occupational therapy care assistant. Graeme, who works as a senior lecturer at Teesside University<\/a>, said they watched her blossom into “an absolutely amazing woman” after previously beating the leukaemia.<\/p>\n “As parents, we decided at that point, that she had earned the right to do anything she wants,” he said. “She got a travel bug and wanted to go places and if we could possibly make it happen we said yes and I’m glad we did.”<\/p>\n Grace loved to travel and had wanted to make the world a better place(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n In Paris on holiday(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n Among the countries Grace visited were Nepal, Turkey, Florida, Spain, Austria and France. “We took the opportunities when they arose – we made memories not material things,” said Nichola.<\/p>\n “Grace managed to make friends and collect people everywhere she goes. She is just loved in all directions, whether it was at school, college or work.”<\/p>\n Grace attended Seaton Holy Trinity Primary School and Dyke House Academy in Hartlepool<\/a> before studying at Middlesbrough College<\/a> then securing a degree apprenticeship at Manchester Metropolitan University. When she was at college she was entered into a chemistry competition and made the national finals in Cardiff.<\/p>\n Grace with her little sister Sophie(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n The sisters were very close and Sophie held Grace as she passed away(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n It was on her way to the contest that she began suffering agonising pains in her back. After several hospital visits and checks, she was taken by her parents to the RVI in Newcastle in December where a blood film revealed the news they had feared most – her leukaemia had returned.<\/p>\n “The consultant said, ‘you will have to go to the Freeman Hospital for a stem cell transplant,'” explained Graeme, 52. “She was told the treatment for the bone marrow transplant was total body radiation, followed by really strong chemotherapy to kill the bone marrow and then you get the stem cells which is an infusion.<\/p>\n “She was told it would make her sterile so, in order to preserve her fertility, she was brave enough, prior to coming in, to go to the RVI and have one of her ovaries harvested and frozen so that in the future she could have babies. At 19 to make that decision – her heroism was just unbelievable.”<\/p>\n A treasured family picture of Grace(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n Her dad said she cared about others from a young age and wants any money raised to help others battling the disease(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n Following the treatment, Grace suffered a chest infection and rare side effects which hit her body all at the same time. This led to a catastrophic brain injury with no chance of recovery and the devastating decision was made by doctors to withdraw treatment.<\/p>\n Grace died in the arms of her loving parents and sister. She had written letters to her family and friends to be read if she didn’t make it out of treatment.<\/p>\n “They are full of so much maturity for somebody so young and they are giving us so much comfort,” said Graeme. “One of the lines says: ‘When you walk the dog along the seafront, I’m in the roaring of the ocean, I’m in the air that you breathe, I’m at one with nature, and it’s okay’.<\/p>\n “She said, ‘go and live your life for me’. She was so brave, she was our amazing Grace. She doggedly, determinedly fought every single thing. She beat it but in the end the toll was just too many things.<\/p>\n “She was a gift to the world. She was pure of heart and soul, kind, generous and all the best attributes you could wish to have in a human being.<\/p>\n “The important thing we want to get across is love your kids, you never know when anything could change. And register for stem cell treatment- it’s literally a transfusion, it’s not an invasive thing and it’s almost painless.<\/p>\n “And blood donation. Grace had so many transfusions. It’s a simple thing to do and you save someone’s life.”<\/p>\n Grace wrote letters to her family offering words of comfort(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n Her parents said she was ‘a gift to the world'(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n The family has requested no cards or flowers to be sent but are urging people to donate to the hospital wards at the Freeman which showed so much care towards their daughter, which the family described as “second to none”.<\/p>\n Sophie turned 17 last week and her mum said she has been “absolutely phenomenal.” She added: “There is sisterly love and there is what we have witnessed. It’s really grounded us and helped us. Throughout it all, she’s been just amazing.”<\/p>\n Money raised through the JustGiving page<\/a>, already at \u00a37,000, will help the hospital wards and a cancer research charity which the family are now looking into to ensure it helps others like Grace. The JustGiving page is HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Did you know you can make Teesside Live a preferred source of Teesside news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information<\/a> about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Grace](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_NCR_MGA_110426_grace_11.jpg\")
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