Kessia at Tamanu Beach Club,
Port Vila, Vanuatu, 30 November
2001
Kessia was diagnosed with a brain tumour (a diffuse pontine glioma) on 18 September 2002. After a swift and tumultuous battle, Kessia died peacefully at home, in our arms, on 3 November 2002.
Kessia was a beautiful, caring, gentle, loving girl. She was seven years old and a joy to behold.
Please take the time to read through her site and find out about our lovely, sweet angel.
Kessia's life was small in some way, but as vain parents, we want her impact to be as large as we can possibly make it. You can help us fulfil this wish by:
Sending a link of Kessia's website <http://www.kessiacare.org.au> to people that you know; telling friends and work colleagues about the site; or sending Kessia's details to any mailing list you belong to, which allow you to do so.
From our hearts to you,
Denise, Geoff and Joshua McConnell
14 November 2002
Canberra, Australia
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This page and the pages linked directly to it were created in the first few weeks following Kessia's diagnosis to keep family and friends informed of our progress. |
Kessia's illness was rapid. We had 46 precious days with her from when her brain tumour was diagnosed. Click above for a chronological description of the twelve weeks surrounding Kessia's illness. |
This web diary was started on 19 October 2002 by Denise. You can follow our family's progress during the final weeks of Kessia's life and our journey beyond. |
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We would love to document your stories, memories and happy moments you've shared with Kessia. They don't even have to be "special" moments, even everyday stories about her would be lovely. |
Please sign Kessia's guestbook. It's nice to keep tabs of people who have visited her site and read her story.
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Some of our favourite photos from the past 18 months. |
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Details about Kessia's funeral service, including Geoff and Denise's remembrance speeches, as well as directions to Kessia's burial site can be found here. View a selection of photographs and slideshows which were played during Kessia's funeral service |
Kessia's memorial was held on 28 November 2002. A number of people who knew Kessia well spoke about her. Their moving memorials are recorded here. At the end of the ceremony, the gathering released canoes, paper boats, coconut boats and flowers to farewell Kessia. A series of photos may also be found here. |
Geoff's little book of "tender mercies" We have been trying to record all the fortuitous, coincidental, little happenings which have come our way. [UNDER CONSTRUCITON] |
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When Kessia lost the ability to speak, she communciated by writing messages to us on an etcher sketcher. These are some of her last, legible messages from end-October where Kessia talks about her tumour and frustrations for the first time. |
Stories from Kessia's last weeks A few short stories to share from Kessia's last weeks with us.
Kessia Fairy in our garden
at home in Port Vila, |
We have many ideas to help families touched by brain tumours or other hardships. These include providing educational material and practical resources for various children's hospitals, and perhaps even supporting an orphanage in Asia. We also have a less practical use for this money --- a holiday to relax, have fun and find our way forward as a family. |
