Laney Brown, an 8-year-old Pennsylvania girl who fought leukemia and inspired thousands to come out and sing Christmas carols for her on Saturday, died on Christmas morning. Her family shared the sad news on a Facebook page dedicated to her struggle.
“My heart breaks right now,” the first message read. “Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven. She took her last breath at home in her bed at 3:10 surrounded by all her family and friends. I miss her so much already.”
The Facebook page helped draw attention to her struggle from across the country, earning 133,000 likes and nearly every post on the page has drawn thousands of comments. CNN notes that she even got the attention of Taylor Swift and she helped Laney fulfil a lifelong dream to meet her. On Friday, the two chatted on FaceTime.
According to WFMZ, 10,000 people came to sing Christmas carols outside her West Reading home.
Although she could not go to the window to see them, she heard the crowd singing. “I can hear you now!!! Love you!” she said in a Facebook post. Her family included a picture of her with her thumbs up, wearing a breathing mask.
Early this morning, her father wrote another message to the Facebook page’s followers, noting that much of the medical equipment is still in their home, as are her unopened Christmas presents. “My life will never be the same since that little angel touched it. Last night there was beautiful candles lighting my street, thank u for that,” he wrote.