Teenage actress collapses and dies from the brain tumour doctors said was just a migraine hours after singing happy birthday to her mother Too young to die: Tragic Leah Pearson, from Barnsley, North Yorks., passed away from a brain tumour, having initially been diagnosed with a migraine A budding teenage beautician and actress collapsed and died from a brain tumour that doctors thought was just a migraine. Leah Pearson, 18, passed away just hours after singing 'Happy Birthday' to her mother, Haley. Student Leah had been receiving treatment for incurable cancer but had been reasonably well before she died suddenly last weekend. Her shocking death traumatised her family, who had been celebrating her Haley's birthday that day. Heartbroken father Nigel, 39, sad: 'Leah had sang happy birthday to her mum who then opened all her presents. Her day was just her normal routine. After having breakfast she said "I feel sick" and that was it, she had a fit and then we phoned 999. After Leah, from Barnsley, South Yorks., suddenly started fitting she was rushed to hospital - when she arrived she suffered further fits and tragically died. Haley, Leah's mum, had turned 37 that day. She said Leah had been complaining of headaches in November and after visiting the doctor, was initially told the pain was caused by migraines. Leah - the eldest of the couple's three children - was diagnosed with cancer in March but had been determined to beat the disease. Only a few weeks ago, she posted on Facebook: 'Cancer can kiss my big juicy ass butt because I will beat you.' Following an MRI scan, she was put on a six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Weston Park hospital to shrink the tumour so she could undergo surgery to remove it. Her parents were not told how long their daughter would live for but her death had come as a complete shock. Haley said: 'Leah got on with it, she made everybody laugh and she turned into a little comedian. She brought laughter to a lot of people. Nigel and Haley said Leah was a very popular girl and was a keen dancer and actress, even landing a role as an extra in BBC drama Waterloo Road. Talent: Budding actress Leah had been given a role in the popular television series, Waterloo Road A Facebook tribute page has received almost 3,500 likes. On the day she died, several of her friends had been taking part in a Race for Life event to raise funds for Cancer Research. Haley said the fundraising in her memory would continue and they hoped to collect cash for Weston Park to say thank you. Nigel said: 'Everything she wanted in her life she achieved. Her driving test - she passed that first time. When she got diagnosed it took everything off her but she kept smiling.