Girl with Terminal Illness Recieves her Final Christmas Wish

Laney Brown.
(Credit : Team Laney)

“My heart breaks right now,” said the Mother of Delaney Brown, a young Pennsylvanian girl who passed away from a terminal illness on Christmas night. The loss of a child is one of life’s greatest tragedies, but at the very least the Brown family says they know their “Laney” passed away in peace, surrounded by an abounding sense of love from her family and community. On the night of her passing, one of Laney’s greatest wishes was granted, as she was serenaded by over 10,000 Christmas carolers outside of her home. In addition to an inspiring community turnout, the Make-a-Wish foundation helped realize yet another of one of Laney’s biggest dreams: talking to musician Taylor Swift.

Laney Brown went through five rounds of radiation as well as a stem cell transplant since being diagnosed with the disease last May. When her family realized the gravity of Laney’s illness, they created a Facebook page to provide support and awareness of the girl’s condition. Thus, on Saturday night, thousands of supporters responded to a Facebook post asking for community members to sing carols and raise the child’s spirits. The result? More than double the amount of the 4,000 indicated attendees showed up, many donning a Santa Cap and holding up a candle, to sing “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” to bring some joy on what would be a difficult Christmas for the Browns.

Outside of the Brown’s house in Pennsylvania.
(Credit: dailymail.co.uk)

The eight year old Laney’s illness was a particularly rare form of cancer called myeloid leukemia. But even through her physical pain, the Browns said she was a “wonderful, kind, and loving child, who brought so much joy to our lives…Even as her illness progressed, Laney never stopped having faith, she continued to smile in spite of her pain and she showed more concern for all of us than for herself.”

Laney lived a vibrant life, with a passion for the world of fashion and listening to music. So when it was becoming clear to the family that Laney’s condition was worsening, the Make-a-Wish foundation connected her with pop star Taylor Swift via FaceTime—a big moment for Laney that brought so much joy into her final days. Laney “was actually worried that when Taylor Facetimed she would be too scared to talk,” but her family said the country star was sweet as could be and “really engaged Laney in conversation.”

Credit: fan2.fr

At around 3 AM on Christmas night, Laney finally passed. “I lay next to her all day and all night kissing her beautiful face,” said a family member. Christmas night will always mark a time of profound loss at the hand of a rare terminal illness for the Browns —but it will also remind them of a moment where their community came together to show unprecedented love and support for their dear child, who was taken by cancer but nonetheless “passed away quietly with her loving family by her side.”

Related:

• Visit the Brown family’s Facebook support page for Laney
• Visit the American Cancer Society’s page about cancer in children
• Read more about Laney’s passing from abc news