December 2004

This online memorial was created in loving memory of Seanna McKell.  Please sign Seanna's guest book and let us know you came to visit.

On June 5, 1997 our lives were filled with more love when our first child, Seanna was born.  She was a happy, easygoing baby who quickly charmed everyone with her beautiful red hair and sweet smile.  Seanna was a loving big sister to her two younger siblings, Kyle and Andralyn.  She was best friends with Kyle and she absolutely adored Andralyn.  She enjoyed having a baby in the family so much that after Andralyn hit the toddler years, Seanna would  touch my stomach and hopefully ask if a baby was in there.  Unfortunately, her twin baby brothers didn't join our family until almost 2 years after her passing.  She would have loved being a little mother to them.

Seanna attended Fall River Elementary where she excelled in school.  She loved to read and would often make up homework just for fun.  She also enjoyed playing the piano.  In March 2004, we noticed that her smile was crooked.  The eventual diagnosis was diffuse pontine glioma - a  rare brainstem tumor with a mere 2% survival rate. 

Seanna's treatment consisted of 30 rounds of radiation.  She handled the treatments with a maturity beyond her years.  To reduce the swelling in her brain, she took decadron which made her face puff up.  By the end of the 30 rounds of radiation, her radiation mask had gotten so tight that it left square marks on her face.  She would laugh and say that she was a waffle. 

The radiation worked wonderfully.  One day I found her in the bathroom staring in wonder at her smiling reflection.  Her smile had come back!  She was so happy to be able to smile again.  Oh, the simple things that we normally take for granted!

Kyle & Seanna with Goofy at the the Polynesian Resort in Disney World

For the next 6 months Seanna lived life as any other healthy kid.  She had no apparent side effects from the radiation.  We took advantage of that time and filled it with many family activities.  In August, through the generosity of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, we went on a fun-filled trip to Disney World.

In December 2004 we noticed that Seanna was stumbling and holding her head to the side, both of which is a sign of tumor growth.  On December 13th she had a MRI.  Our neuro-oncologist told us that Seanna had two more months to live.  She was put on decadron to help minimize the symptoms.  Her face and body puffed up and her body slowed down with the combined side effects of the decadron and the tumor progression.  In spite of those difficulties, she continued to go to school and take piano lessons. 

Seanna with a dissected cow eye, taken a few days before she passed away

On the Saturday before she passed away, she slept most of the day. Starting the evening before, the tumor was giving her headaches but she complained little and enjoyed being with the family.  That night I gave her a bath.  I told her that she didn't need to go to church the next day (we are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).  She turned and looked at me and emphatically said, "Mom, I NEED to go to church."  Her desire to do what is right even in the face of adversity touched me deeply. 

On Sunday she peacefully returned to be with her Heavenly Father with her dad and me holding her.  I am so blessed to have Seanna as my daughter.  I look forward to the day when we will be reunited.