Kodi (11) to be laid to rest

Kodi (11) to be laid to rest

31 July 2019

BRAVE little Kodi Brown from Killinchy will be buried tomorrow after a year-long fight against a brain tumour.

The 11 year-old died last Tuesday in the arms of her mother and surrounded by her family after receiving pioneering medical treatment in Germany. 

More than £200,000 was raised by local supporters and well-wishers to fund the specialised treatment which was not available in the UK.

Her funeral service will be held in St Mary’s Parish Church, Kilmood, and will be followed by interment in the adjoining graveyard. 

Kodi’s mother, Gemma, announced the tragic news on Kodi’s Krew fundraising Facebook page last week, saying: “The most beautiful soul is now free from the most brutal disease.”

Mrs Brown said she was “blessed and honoured” to have been her mum and that her “precious little girl was not only my daughter but one of the best friends I have ever had.

“The light, the joy and the motivation she brought into my life and to so many others will leave an agonising void,” continued Mrs Brown.

“She made me proud in abundance. Her ability to converse with people of all ages was remarkable. Quick-witted and vivacious, she could captivate her audiences with compelling stories of her own experiences and those from her dazzling imagination. 

“Her mothering compassionate nature led her to help those troubled or in need and she was often courageous in doing so, especially with being so sensitive herself.”

Mrs Brown added that her family and the local community had lost “a little hero” and spoke of her daughter’s ability to love.

“If Kodi loved you, you knew. She expressed her love openly to her family and friends daily, which is a quality I deeply admired and in her last weeks she used all her strength to tell us.”

Mrs Brown, who was with Kodi constantly during her treatment in Germany, spoke of her pain at losing her eldest child and only daughter.

“The overwhelming pain I feel from losing the greatest gift of a daughter and to no longer be able to help her achieve her dreams, aspirations and all the special milestones I expected to experience with her will haunt me each day until I am called to be her mummy again.

“For now, my darling son and I must find a way to live on through the pain. The power of love — we are forever broken.”

Kodi took ill last February during her P6 year at Killinchy Primary School while playing at a friend’s house. Initially diagnosed with a viral infection, she continued to take seizures at home.

In May after a routine MRI, her family were told that there was still swelling on her brain. Four weeks later, the worst news that Kodi had a brain tumour was confirmed and there were no curative treatments available. 

Her family refused to give up hope and took Kodi to Germany on a self-funded trip where pioneering immunotherapy was offered, alongside infusion treatments.

However, the costs of the treatment were prohibitive and Gemma’s friends created the Kodi’s Krew fundraising appeal to fund the treatment and living costs.

The Killinchy community and her school backed the fundraising effort with local events being held weekly.

Killinchy Primary School principal Chris Currie last night spoke of losing Kodi “who was loved by everyone”.

“The whole school community is devastated at Kodi’s loss,” he said. “She was very much a bright light. She was just so brave. The strength and maturity it took to go through what she did as such a young child was so impressive to us all.

“Kodi will be massively missed and we will remember and celebrate her positivity as she was always up for a laugh and a bit of banter.”

Mr Currie said that the school threw itself as a community into the fundraising effort as well as supporting the family, particularly her brother Blake who also attends the school.

“When something like this happens to a child who’s one of our own, we give everything to do and have done our best to stand with the family and support them,” he added.

“Our job now is to help the family deal with the aftermath and we will support the parents and Blake with whatever support we can give.

Mr Currie said that he was overwhelmed by Kodi’s maturity when she addressed a special school assembly in May and paid her thanks to the pupils’ parents for helping her family with the treatment costs.

Kodi is survived by her mother, Gemma, dad Andy, brother Blake, grandparents and extended family circle.