Today I received some bad news. Bree's little friend Layla passed away this week. I don't have many details. The only thing I do know is that she passed away in her sleep.
We met Layla and her Mom, Nicole, back in April of last year. Bree had a bacterial infection in her line and we were in the hospital for our 5 day stay until she got better. While we were walking around the halls of our hospital room, we met a cute little girl with dark brown eyes and a beautiful bald head. She was very friendly and interested in Breezy. They shared the common bond of having the same cancer. With neuroblastoma, it's not that common to meet someone else because it is such a rare cancer. Layla showed us some of her scars and wanted to see some of Bree's too.
From then on, Nicole and I kept in contact. They weren't from the Phoenix area so they would travel down and stay at a Ronald McDonald house while Layla received chemotherapy. Whenever they came to town for treatments, we'd try to go visit them. Layla liked baby dolls just like Bree. They were cute friends, even though they were 5 years apart. Kindred spirits I guess! We visited Layla on her 6th birthday (which she spent at the hosptial) and gave her a bunch of toys to brighten her day.
She had been through so much. Nicole has been through so much as well. As a parent, it's so hard to watch your child suffer with a disease like cancer. I am at a loss for words at the moment. My heart hurts for this family because they watched Layla fight for so long. The part that gives me comfort is that she is now free from her little body that was sick for so long. She is now with a loving God that carried her and her family through their journey.
Goodbye sweet Layla. Until we meet again. We love you!
**If anyone would like to check her caring bridge site or inquire about funeral details, please leave a comment with an email and I will contact you. (I will delete the comment if you dont want your email shown) Thanks for reading!
9 comments:
Oh, Kari! I'm so sorry to hear this. I recognized her name immediately from the post that you had made back sometime ago. Please do let her family know that they're in my prayers. My heart is aching so much for them...
My heart just breaks for them. It is so hard. . . It's good that they have you as friends. Don't be afraid to talk to them, even though you don't know what to say. All that matters is that you care, and that you'll remember Layla.
If you could Kari please email me her caringbridge with funeral details clt_bah@yahoo.com. Thank you so much!!
I am so sorry. I know they were a special family to you as you spoke of them often. Please let their parents know that we are praying for them and are heartbroken for them as well. Don't they live near me? I believe this is the friend you went and saw while you were visiting last. What could I do for them?
That breaks my heart. What a sweet, beautiful little girl. I'm sure she will be an angel watching over Bree.
My heart hurts for this momma that I don't know. Please forward on my best wishes for this family and tell them that I am praying for them during this hard time.
Kari, I have been thinking about you as well as Nicole nonstop from when I read your post yesterday on Facebook about this. I cannot imagine the fight that Layla fought, as well as her mother. As hard as it is on Nicole and their family, I am so grateful that sweet Layla is now able to truly enjoy life, and I know from my own experience with my mom, how close these spirits really are to us. They are in my prayers. Love you!
What a beautiful smiley girl Layla is. So lucky you got to meet her. I will keep her family in our prayers. Thanks Kari for sharing and great job on your run, you are awesome!
Hey Kari,
I would like to know her caringbridge site.
Thanks
Missy
missyhh07@yahoo.com
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