TRIBUTES have poured in for a resilient teenager who died just two months after beating the odds to celebrate her 18th birthday.

Erika Cowie, affectionately known as Tinkerbell, died peacefully on Monday after a battle with heart and lung condition idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The inspirational former Commonweal pupil defied the odds to mark her milestone 18th birthday with a celebration in Cardiff in July.

When Erika was 13 doctors told her parents she was unlikely to make her 14th birthday. But Erika thrived and defied the doctors’ expectations.

Erika’s mother Rachel said her ‘beautiful, sociable’ daughter would be sorely missed.

“Erika was my little girl, my baby, Tinkerbell, monkey. She was my little buddy, I will miss her so much.

“She was beautiful, caring, just amazing in every way. She was funny, she had a great sense of humour, she was mature and grown up but on the other hand she was a typical teenager,” she said.

“Proud isn’t even the word, she touched so many people’s lives. She had her down days but most of the time she got on with it, she was positive and had such an upbeat character. That was what she always did, she got on with the cards she had been dealt.

“She couldn’t do as much as her friends but they understood. She was aware of her limitations but she never let them hold her back.”

Rachel said she would forever treasure the memory of the family’s holiday to Burnham-on-sea in August.

“Erika was very happy then, even though things were affecting her more she didn’t let it hold her back.”

Erika’s uncle, Paul Murphy, said: “I am so impressed with how the family as a whole have supported my sister and how lucky she was to have had so many fantastic friends, at the end of the day we were all lucky to have had her in our lives.”

Despite her health struggles Erika remained fiercely independent and was determined to live as normal a life as possible.

She had recently taken up a job at BuildaBear in the Outlet Centre and enjoyed watching CSI and the Twilight Saga and meeting friends for coffee.

Erika and her family also channelled their energy into fundraising for the Rainbow Trust, the children’s charity which provides practical and emotional help to young patients with life-threatening or terminal illnesses and their families. They raised nearly £850 for the Rainbow Trust this year.

“I am determined to carry on the work she was doing, when I feel strong enough I will do that as that was her wish,” said Rachel.

Friends also posted tributes on social media to Erika.

Fellow pulmonary arterial hypertension sufferer Stacie Pridden, from Pinehurst who has had a heart and double lung transplant, said: "This is something I never wanted to be writing and actually always thought Erika would be writing about me.

"I consider knowing and being Erika's friend an absolute honour. She was like my little sister who I got to talk and moan and bitch about all our horrid PH issues to one of the few people in this world who I could be truly honest about all that with and I believe she was the same with me.

"I'm devastated that I'll never get to see you again but I'm happy you're no longer fighting and in pain and can finally rest I know how exhausting it must have been. PH sucks but as much as it sucks it meant I had you as my friend so I can't be too mad at it..."

Theresa Marie Keegan wrote: “Devastated heaven has gained another angel, RIP Erika Cowie, a beautiful young girl with a beautiful soul, taken far too soon, fly high princess, will miss you dearly xxxx.”

And Chloe Martin wrote: “I hope you are settling in okay up there. Look down on us all to make sure we’re doing okay. I love and miss you always, rest in peace our beautiful angel.”