Girl whose wish inspired mass Christmas carol celebration dies
By Josh Levs and Steve Almasy, CNN
updated 9:16 AM EST, Thu December 26, 2013
Watch this video
Girl who inspired 10,000 carolers dies
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
"Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven," the family says
Laney Brown, 8, had asked to meet Taylor Swift and to hear Christmas carols
On Friday she had a video chat with the music star
Saturday night, for one hour, people packed the street and serenaded her
(CNN) -- A little girl whose Christmas wish inspired thousands of people to sing in the streets died overnight.
Laney Brown, 8, suffered from leukemia.
"Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven," a post on an official Facebook page about her said. "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."
Delaney Brown of West Reading, Pennsylvania, "inspired a community and touched hearts across the world," as CNN affiliate WFMZ put it.
She loved music and dancing.
Her dying wishes were to meet country music superstar Taylor Swift and for some people to come by her house for a night of caroling.
10,000 carolers respond to girl's wish
On Friday -- her birthday -- Laney and Swift video-chatted through FaceTime, a software application that allows callers to see each other on Apple products.
Then, Saturday night, the singers came. At first it was hundreds of people, then thousands. Then it was about 10,000, CNN affiliate WFMZ reported.
She was too weak to go to the window, but heard the wonderful music.
"I can hear you now!!! Love you!" she said in a Facebook post that showed a photo of her lying in bed with a breathing mask -- and two thumbs up.
Laney was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia seven months ago. Last week doctors told her family that she had 70% cancer cells in her blood. She came home from the hospital Thursday.
The Christmas carol celebration outside her home attracted people from all over. Her dance team was there to honor her. Even Santa showed up.
Many of the singers held back tears.
"I can't even express how I feel," Krysta Rebe, who has a daughter Laney's age, told WFMZ.
It was only an hour of singing, but it lifted the spirits of everyone who jammed the block.
"As much as I want that miracle to be saving the life of an 8-year-old little girl, Laney, the miracle was an 8-year-old little girl teaching an entire community, town, city and the whole country the true meaning of Christmas," one participant, Marianne Franken, wrote on Facebook."
On Wednesday, thousands of people liked and commented on the Facebook post announcing the little girl's death.
"I do not cry for Laney, who lives on in peace and happiness with our Lord," wrote Cornell Stornbergh. "I mourn for us, who now have to live in a world without her."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/25/us/christmas-carol-girl-dies/
Thousands of carolers fulfill girl's dying wish VIDEO - MUST WATCH
Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News December 22, 2013 6:28 PM.
Thousands of Carolers Gather to Fulfill Girl's Dying Wish
There doesn't appear to be any shortage of heartwarming stories this holiday season. In the latest display of ice-melting kindness, thousands of carolers gathered in West Reading, Pa., on Saturday to fulfill a dying girl's Christmas wish.
Delaney Brown, an 8-year-old suffering from leukemia, had included carolers on a "bucket list," and organizers expected "a few thousand" to take part in the event. Close to 10,000 people showed up.
Brown's family, which has been updating a "Team Laney" Facebook page, posted a photo of her giving two thumbs up as she heard the caroling outside her home.
On Dec. 17, doctors gave her "two days to two weeks to live."
http://news.yahoo.com/carolers-girl-dying-video-232834643.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRISTMAS CAROLING FOR LANEY
FINAL NEWS RELEASE
Almost 10,000 Carolers for Laney
deliver on a promise and answer the wishes of one incredible little girl
WEST READING, December 21 –
Almost 10,000 people descended to the streets of West Reading and reminded the world of the true spirit of Christmas. Laney Brown, an ambassador of hope and resolve asked for a wish to hear Christmas carolers. The world delivered. The images warm the heart as a community sent their love, prayers, and wishes to Laney who responded with a picture of two thumbs up as she heard the singing from inside her home.
As organizers, we are moved by the spirit and generosity of so many who answered the call and turned the streets of West Reading into a Christmas choir.
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/DocServer/LaneyFinalPressRelease.pdf?docID=334973
By Josh Levs and Steve Almasy, CNN
updated 9:16 AM EST, Thu December 26, 2013
Watch this video
Girl who inspired 10,000 carolers dies
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
"Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven," the family says
Laney Brown, 8, had asked to meet Taylor Swift and to hear Christmas carols
On Friday she had a video chat with the music star
Saturday night, for one hour, people packed the street and serenaded her
(CNN) -- A little girl whose Christmas wish inspired thousands of people to sing in the streets died overnight.
Laney Brown, 8, suffered from leukemia.
"Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven," a post on an official Facebook page about her said. "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."
Delaney Brown of West Reading, Pennsylvania, "inspired a community and touched hearts across the world," as CNN affiliate WFMZ put it.
She loved music and dancing.
Her dying wishes were to meet country music superstar Taylor Swift and for some people to come by her house for a night of caroling.
10,000 carolers respond to girl's wish
On Friday -- her birthday -- Laney and Swift video-chatted through FaceTime, a software application that allows callers to see each other on Apple products.
Then, Saturday night, the singers came. At first it was hundreds of people, then thousands. Then it was about 10,000, CNN affiliate WFMZ reported.
She was too weak to go to the window, but heard the wonderful music.
"I can hear you now!!! Love you!" she said in a Facebook post that showed a photo of her lying in bed with a breathing mask -- and two thumbs up.
Laney was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia seven months ago. Last week doctors told her family that she had 70% cancer cells in her blood. She came home from the hospital Thursday.
The Christmas carol celebration outside her home attracted people from all over. Her dance team was there to honor her. Even Santa showed up.
Many of the singers held back tears.
"I can't even express how I feel," Krysta Rebe, who has a daughter Laney's age, told WFMZ.
It was only an hour of singing, but it lifted the spirits of everyone who jammed the block.
"As much as I want that miracle to be saving the life of an 8-year-old little girl, Laney, the miracle was an 8-year-old little girl teaching an entire community, town, city and the whole country the true meaning of Christmas," one participant, Marianne Franken, wrote on Facebook."
On Wednesday, thousands of people liked and commented on the Facebook post announcing the little girl's death.
"I do not cry for Laney, who lives on in peace and happiness with our Lord," wrote Cornell Stornbergh. "I mourn for us, who now have to live in a world without her."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/25/us/christmas-carol-girl-dies/
Thousands of carolers fulfill girl's dying wish VIDEO - MUST WATCH
Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News December 22, 2013 6:28 PM.
Thousands of Carolers Gather to Fulfill Girl's Dying Wish
There doesn't appear to be any shortage of heartwarming stories this holiday season. In the latest display of ice-melting kindness, thousands of carolers gathered in West Reading, Pa., on Saturday to fulfill a dying girl's Christmas wish.
Delaney Brown, an 8-year-old suffering from leukemia, had included carolers on a "bucket list," and organizers expected "a few thousand" to take part in the event. Close to 10,000 people showed up.
Brown's family, which has been updating a "Team Laney" Facebook page, posted a photo of her giving two thumbs up as she heard the caroling outside her home.
On Dec. 17, doctors gave her "two days to two weeks to live."
http://news.yahoo.com/carolers-girl-dying-video-232834643.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRISTMAS CAROLING FOR LANEY
FINAL NEWS RELEASE
Almost 10,000 Carolers for Laney
deliver on a promise and answer the wishes of one incredible little girl
WEST READING, December 21 –
Almost 10,000 people descended to the streets of West Reading and reminded the world of the true spirit of Christmas. Laney Brown, an ambassador of hope and resolve asked for a wish to hear Christmas carolers. The world delivered. The images warm the heart as a community sent their love, prayers, and wishes to Laney who responded with a picture of two thumbs up as she heard the singing from inside her home.
As organizers, we are moved by the spirit and generosity of so many who answered the call and turned the streets of West Reading into a Christmas choir.
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/DocServer/LaneyFinalPressRelease.pdf?docID=334973
