As I had posted a while ago, we have a second cousin, McKenzie Brownlee who has been fighting AML leukemia. She is the sweetest, most active 2 year old that anyone will every meet! She is three months older than Owen. As she has such a brave little girl going thru chemo at children's mercy, no treatment was working. She was never in remission so that a bone marrow transplant could take place. So her parents decided to take Kenzie home and enjoy the time they had with her. And boy, did they have a great time! Her days were spent jumping on a trampoline, playing with her sisters and be as active as ever! She got to meet Chiefs cheerleaders, ride on a bus, and ride on a boat....a Disney Cruise Boat :)
The last week of August, Kenzie started to get a fever and started to be in pain. Hospice was involved and measures were taken to make her comfortable. It was very fast, which we are so blessed that it was. Kenzie really only seemed "sick" her last few days she was here. On August 28th, McKenzie received her angel wings....her mommy holding her tight in her arms til the very end.
Tiffany, Kenzie's mom.....I can't say enough about her strength and courage she provided to Kenzie. She is the best mom ever! She has been so strong thru this all. I don't know how God has been able to give her the strength to get thru. McKenzie's celebration of life was beautiful. So many wonderful pictures, played to music. The pastor did a wonderful job. The funny stories that were told of Kenzer....well, they speak for themselves....such a beautiful girl who loved her life and loved her family.
How do you explain death to a 4 year old. How do you do it without scaring them. Kenzie passed away on a saturday and it wasn't til tuesday afternoon that i finally told Ryan. Our converstaion went like this:
Me: Ryan, remember that Kenzie was sick. she had ouchies in her blood. she was at the hospital alot. they gave her medicine and that is why she lost her hair. well, the medicine didn't work and she died.
Ryan: she died??!!
Me: she did and now she is with jesus.
Ryan: well, when i was kenzie's age, did i die.
Me: no ryan you didn't
Ryan: when will kenzie open her eyes again and talk to us.
Me: well, ryan, she won't. she is with Jesus now. She does not hurt anymore. Jesus made her better. she is i heaven.
Ryan: oh, you mean the angels came down and took her up to heaven.
Me: yes, ryan that is exactly what i mean.
Leave it to a 4 year old to explain it to you! We talk about kenzie alot. ryan still brings up questions about death. He is scared to take motrin and tylenol b/c he is afraid he will lose his hair....but we are slowly working on it.
Our heart breaks that Kenzie is not here with us, but we know she is in a better place, running and playing with Mormo, her best friend who also lost her battle to leukemia in May. Kenzie, we love you to the moon and back!!!!
