Funeral Arrangements Set For 6-Year-Old Brielle Barber
SPRINGFIELD, Pa (CBS) -- Funeral arrangements have been made for six-year-old Brielle Barber who passed away on Monday after a long battle with pediatric cancer.
Friends and family are invited to her Viewing on Friday, July 15 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Kevin Church in Springfield followed by a Funeral Mass to follow at 10:30. Another Viewing is scheduled for Thursday evening.
The family is asking donations be made to CHOP via the Grayson Saves Foundation -- a non-profit that aids children and families afflicted with pediatric brain tumors.
The foundation was created for Grayson Savery who became fast friends with Brielle over a packet of Smartees candy while receiving their chemo treatments three years ago.
In a blog post, Grayson's mom Jackie reflected on that day her and her son first met Brielle and her mom Kelly.
"No one wants to be on the oncology floor, but once you get past the fact that you are there, you begin to seek solace in the fact that others are there with you. Others know, intimately, exactly what you are thinking and feeling and denying. And, while there is a great deal of fear, there is peace in that horrible commonness. Long after the supply of Smartees was depleted, Kelly and I continued to talk. Neither knowing, at that moment, just how deep and strong that bond would grow to be. Our children, both the same age, born in the same month, both beginning at the same hospital before transferring care to CHOP, and both having won the same (shitty) genetic lottery."
Jackie also talked about Brielle in her final moments, cradled in her mother's arms with purple glitter fingernails and how she thought she would have more time.
Just last year singer Rachel Platten was telling fans to keep little Brielle in their prayers as she prepared for brain surgery. Brielle sadly passed away a few days shy of the operation's one-year anniversary.
Brielle was the inspiration for the "Lemon Shot Challenge" which dared people to drink straight lemon juice to promote awareness of and raise money for childhood cancer.
Click here to read Jackie's full blog post.