Friday, November 21, 2008

Hundreds bid Kyah farewell


GREER McDONALD - The Dominion Post | Saturday, 22 November 2008

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

FAREWELL: Graeme Han, mother Shanell Christian, father Jason Milne, brother Jordan, 7, and Nicholas Cavaye brought Kyah Milne's casket into the chapel. At 19 months she was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands.


Words made famous by Christopher Robin in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories resonated with a crowd of hundreds that gathered to celebrate the life of tiny battler Kyah Milne.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember - you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you."

Kyah died peacefully at home on Wednesday, aged "almost three", after a 16-month fight against neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands.

Friends and family who gathered at Lychgate Chapel in Johnsonville yesterday listened to a recording of Kyah's 12-year-old brother Kaleb, who recited passages from books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Hairy Maclary.

Kyah's small white coffin, covered in sparkly stickers, was carried into the chapel by family members to the sound of Scottish pipes.

Celebrant Karen Simpson, who took the marriage service of Kyah's parents Shanell Christian and Jason Milne, spoke of Kyah's short but memorable life - "Defying the odds at every turn, hand-in-hand with her trusty companion 'Raffe [Giraffe].

"We remember Kyah for her indomitable spirit, her determination and for the things that she has taught us to value - love, laughter and life."

Kaleb read a poem he had written for his baby sister, and Child Cancer Foundation staff presented the family with bright pink sparkly scarves.

Members of Kyah's playgroup sang her favourite song "Ka Kite [Farewell]" while a slideshow of photos was shown.

Remembering Kyah

Some video clips as on 3 News (you will need sound).

Kyah passing away

Friends and family pay tribute to brave toddler

Family, friends and well-wishers wishing farewell Kyah Milne

Brave toddler Kyah Milne's life remembered

Emotional farewell for Kyah



GREER McDONALD - The Dominion Post | Friday, 21 November 2008



FAREWELL: Bringing Kyah Milne's casket into the chapel today are from left, Graeme Han, mother Shanell Christian, father Jason Milne, brother Jordan, 7, and Nicholas Cavaye. At 19 months the toddler was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands.


Strangers moved by the journey of brave toddler Kyah Milne stood alongside friends and family at the celebration of her short life in the Wellington suburb of Johnsonville this afternoon.

Before the ceremony at Lychgate Funeral Home hundreds of people listened to a recording of Kyah's brother Kaleb reciting passages from books including The Very Hungry Caterpiller and Hairy Maclary.

Kyah's white coffin, covered in stickers, was carried in by family members to the sound of Scottish pipes.

The celebrant, who previously married Kyah's parents Shanell Christian and Jason Milne, read a eulogy detailing the short but memorable life of the almost three-year-old.

When she was just 19 months old she was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands.

Kyah's journey an inspiration for thousands

Click here for original article
Tributes and donations flow after toddler's death
GREER McDONALD - The Dominion Post | Friday, 21 November 2008

SUNDAY STAR-TIMES

BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Kyah Milne, who died on Wednesday at the home of her parents Shanell Christian and Jason Milne.

Kyah Milne may have drawn her last breath in her fight against cancer, but her battle has inspired thousands to dig deep to provide continuing support for others.

Fundraising websites have attracted nearly $20,000 of donations toward the Child Cancer Foundation in dedication to Kyah's battle, which ended in her parents' Johnsonville home on Wednesday morning.

She died peacefully, with her parents and her much-loved stuffed toy "Giraffe" at her side, just over a week before her third birthday. .

Kyah was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands, when she was 19 months old.

Tributes have flowed from around the world to the online journal that was kept by her parents throughout the toddler's 505-day rule-breaking fight with the disease.

"She has gone to a place where she can run and play just like any other almost-three-year-old" can, where she is surrounded by butterflies and Polly Pockets and where she is no longer in pain," her mother, Shanell Christian, wrote on the site.

Kyah's father, Jason Milne, told The Dominion Post yesterday that the many donations were "absolutely amazing".

"I guess that's just one of the ways that people can help, and that's fantastic - that's what we've always said through this journey, for people not to send gifts, just donate to child cancer or Ronald McDonald House."

Donations can also be left at Kyah's funeral service, which begins at 1pm today at the Lychgate Chapel in Johnsonville.

Mr Milne said the support the family received from Christchurch and Wellington hospitals and from community nurses was "absolutely amazing", and that staff had become like family.

The popular journal of Kyah's treatment and fight against cancer, which was regularly updated by her parents, received more than 1000 comments of condolence after her death.

Mr Milne said he hoped the entries would eventually be made into a book so that the couple's two other children, 12-year-old Kaleb and seven-year-old Jordan, would understand "how to treat people, and how people can band together".

Kyah's journey an inspiration for thousands



By GREER MACDONALD - The Dominion Post | Friday, 21 November 2008

DEAN KOZANIC/The Press

FOREVER REMEMBERED: Fundraising websites have gathered nearly $20,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, in dedication to Kyah Milne. Her battle with cancer ended on Wednesday morning.

Kyah Milne may have drawn her last breath in her fight against cancer, but her battle has inspired thousands to dig deep to provide continuing support for others.

Fundraising websites have attracted nearly $20,000 of donations toward the Child Cancer Foundation in dedication to Kyah's battle, which ended in her parents' Johnsonville home on Wednesday morning.

She died peacefully, with her parents and her much-loved stuffed toy "Giraffe" at her side, just over a week before her third birthday.

Kyah was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands, when she was 19 months old.

Tributes have flowed from around the world to the online journal that was kept by her parents throughout the toddler's 505-day rule-breaking fight with the disease.

"She has gone to a place where she can run and play just like any other almost-three-year-old can, where she is surrounded by butterflies and Polly Pockets and where she is no longer in pain," her mother, Shanell Christian, wrote on the site.

Kyah's father, Jason Milne, told The Dominion Post yesterday that the many donations were "absolutely amazing".

"I guess that's just one of the ways that people can help, and that's fantastic - that's what we've always said through this journey, for people not to send gifts, just donate to child cancer or Ronald McDonald House."

Donations can also be left at Kyah's funeral service, which begins at 1pm today at the Lychgate Chapel in Johnsonville.

Mr Milne said the support the family received from Christchurch and Wellington hospitals and from community nurses was "absolutely amazing", and that staff had become like family.

The popular journal of Kyah's treatment and fight against cancer, which was regularly updated by her parents, received more than 1000 comments of condolence after her death.

Mr Milne said he hoped the entries would eventually be made into a book so that the couple's two other children, 12-year-old Kaleb and seven-year-old Jordan, would understand "how to treat people, and how people can band together".

Bittersweet birthday for cancer tot



By KRISTIAN SOUTH - Sunday News | Sunday, 12 October 2008

Tears flowed as "birthday" cheers rang out yesterday for New Zealand's bravest little girl, Kyah Milne.

It was hoped Kyah, two, would be the face of a child cancer campaign after it seemed she had gone into remission from a heart-wrenching battle with deadly neuroblastoma.

But the emotional rollercoaster of the Wellington tot's short life took a tragic twist as the disease came raging back last month.

Realising they had just days left with their precious daughter, Kyah's dad Jason Milne and mum Shanell Christian brought forward her third birthday to yesterday.

The couple was determined the event would be a celebration of Kyah's heroic life rather than a sad commemoration.

"We knew she wouldn't make it to see her third birthday, so we decided to bring it forward," Shanell told Sunday News.

"We were planning to have it next weekend but we don't think she'll even hold on for that long.

"People have come from all around the country to see Kyah," said Shanell.

"This is more about everybody having a chance to say goodbye.

"It's more about celebrating her life than her birthday," she said.

Shanell shared her daughter's highs and lows in an internet blog, titled Kyah's Journey.

It attracted hundreds of hits a day as supporters sought to be updated on the little girl's struggle with neuroblastoma a rare cancer of the adrenal glands mainly affecting children under five.

Those wellwishers united to help transform Kyah's Johnsonville home into a carnival yesterday complete with a petting zoo, a bouncy castle, professional face painters and a clown.

"We were thinking we would do something big for her, but like family big. Now we've got people from all around New Zealand, some of whom we've never met face-to-face, coming to celebrate Kyah's life," Shanell said.

"We only had five days to organise it and I wrote about that on my blog and before we knew it were were getting so many offers for so many people."

A bittersweet presence at the party was a string of beads, each one representing a procedure Kyah has been through.

She has endured major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Every day she needs several doses of morphine to keep the pain at bay.

Jason and Shanell have shared their daughter's rollercoaster ride since she was diagnosed with cancer 15 months ago.

Less than a month ago, they believed Kyah was just weeks away from being in remission. But on September 16, they were were given the devastating news the cancer had returned terminally.

"We don't see it as losing Kyah," Shanell said. "We see that through all her treatments and therapy we had seven fantastic months with our baby girl. She was fantastic, she loved being the centre of attention.

"We even applied for her to be the face of next year's child cancer campaign. She was just a normal happy little girl for eight months and that is a time that we will always be able to cherish."

While the family are preparing to say goodbye to little Kyah, they are also working hard to ensure her brief but blazing life will create goodness and kindness for others.

They are fundraising for the Child Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

"When Kyah was in hospital in Christchurch I don't think we could have survived without that network," Jason said.

"We almost didn't want to leave, because it was like leaving a part of your family. We could never do enough to say thank you."

TradeMe is running a continuous auction on behalf of Kyah's family, where buyers bid for the right to sign their username on a T-shirt before putting it back up for auction. They are hoping the scheme will raise $5000 for CCF.

And Kyah's big brothers Kaleb, 12, and Jordan, seven, have been growing their hair long so they can shave it off as a fundraiser.

"Last year I managed to raise $750," Kaleb said.

If you would like to make a donation please visit www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/kyahsjourney.

kyahsjourney.livejournal.com