A Sudbury girl who touched the lives of so many in her brief but courageous life is one of Northern Life?s Newsmakers of 2004.
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RENEISSA BOESWALD and her mother Sonia. The 10-year-old died in March. |
?The support our family has received from this community has been overwhelming,? said her father, Ernie. ?Everyone who lives here knows Sudbury is a special place and people go out of their way to help people when they?re in need and the support we?ve received from too many people to mention has just been remarkable.?
Hundreds of people attended the funeral for this brave young girl.
More than 900 people purchased tickets for a fundraising dance held about a year before her death to help pay for costs related to her care.
Reniessa was nominated for an Ontario Junior Citizens Award prior to her death.
After she was diagnosed with two different forms of leukemia in April 2003, Reniessa and her parents spent much of their time travelling to Toronto?s Sick Kids Hospital.
The doctors and nurses who cared so much about his little girl will never be forgotten, Ernie said.
?I particularly want to thank Dr. Sean Murray and all the other doctors and nurses in Sudbury and Toronto who cared so much,? he said. ?Dr. Murray could not have done more for her. Reniessa just adored him and he was there when she died just as she would have wanted.?
The Boeswalds are people of faith and this has helped them tremendously.
