Farewell to Amanda
Posted by Lawrence Haas
Broomfield Rotarians partnered with Healthy Learning Paths to conduct several Bone Marrow Drives, to benefit young Amanda Peeples, of Broomfield. Amanda passed away Saturday, August 14th. Attached is the story of Amanda's struggle with aplastic anemia, as published in the Broomfield Enterprise. Her funeral will be on Friday, August 20th. See the following article for specific information.
We will forever remember Amanda's struggles and we will miss her greatly.
We will forever remember Amanda's struggles and we will miss her greatly.
By Michael Davidson Enterprise Staff Writer
Posted: 08/17/2010 12:47:19 PM MDT
Amanda Peebles, the 12-year-old Broomfield girl whose battle against aplastic anemia, lymphoma and other health problems captured the heart of the community, died Saturday.
Amanda passed away at 6:45 p.m. at Children's Hospital in Aurora, according to a posting on the Web site Amanda's family, friends and supporters used to follow her fight.
"Our SWEET Amanda went to Heaven peacefully at 6:45 p.m. tonight. She was surrounded by her family and grandparents," the post stated. "Amanda will be our beautiful angel forever! We love you Amanda and were blessed to have you in our lives!"
Amanda was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia on Feb. 4, 2008. Severe aplastic anemia is a rare and deadly blood disorder that caused her body to stop making red blood cells, which carry oxygen, white blood cells, which fight infection, and platelets, which help stop bleeding.
Broomfield residents quickly rallied to support Amanda and her family. Local nonprofit Healthy Learning Paths sponsored a bone marrow drive at the Children's Wellness Day, raising awareness of Amanda's plight and of blood disorders, and registering potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program.
Amanda endured chemotherapy, radiation and two bone marrow transplants. The second initially appeared successful, and after spending 151 days in Children's Hospital Amanda was able to go home.
About 50 or so friends, neighbors, classmates and teachers from Ryan Elementary School were at Amanda's March 6, 2009, homecoming, ready to greet her the moment she left the car. She was a step ahead of them when her father's car pulled into the driveway, standing with her head and shoulders rising through the car's sunroof.
Sadly, the good times would not last. Severe complications appeared within 100 days of the second transplant, restarting the cycle of extended hospital stays and endless medical tests.
In July 2009, doctors determined Amanda had Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder. The disorder causes tumors to spread through a transplant patient's body. Doctors found tumors on Amanda's brain stem and in her stomach and lungs, leading to more extended hospital stays before her death.
Amanda is survived by her mother, Michelle; father, Arlando; sister, Tionna, and brother, Jayden.
About 50 mourners used the Children's Hospital Web site to share their condolences and memories of Amanda.
"My heart and thoughts and prayers are with you. Amanda has been such a fighter and blessing in so many people's lives. (Michelle, thanks for sharing her with me.) May God bring you comfort and peace in many different ways," commenter Jill Fontaine wrote.
Many writers noted they had never met Amanda or her family before, but were touched by the story of her fight.
People who knew Amanda felt more strongly about the girl.
"She got right into people's hearts," said Robin Techmanski, principal of Ryan Elementary, Amanda's grade school. "She was very considerate of others, very involved and very active."
Students held several fundraisers to support Amanda, and the school community turned out to show their support and love, Techmanski said. A benefit concert had to be relocated from the elementary school because there wasn't enough space.
"We had so many people come we had to use the high school gym," she said.
Amanda's funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Broomfield United Methodist Church, 545 W. 10th Ave. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Rundus Funeral Home, 1998 W. 10th Ave.
Amanda Peebles, the 12-year-old Broomfield girl whose battle against aplastic anemia, lymphoma and other health problems captured the heart of the community, died Saturday.
Amanda passed away at 6:45 p.m. at Children's Hospital in Aurora, according to a posting on the Web site Amanda's family, friends and supporters used to follow her fight.
"Our SWEET Amanda went to Heaven peacefully at 6:45 p.m. tonight. She was surrounded by her family and grandparents," the post stated. "Amanda will be our beautiful angel forever! We love you Amanda and were blessed to have you in our lives!"
Amanda was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia on Feb. 4, 2008. Severe aplastic anemia is a rare and deadly blood disorder that caused her body to stop making red blood cells, which carry oxygen, white blood cells, which fight infection, and platelets, which help stop bleeding.
Broomfield residents quickly rallied to support Amanda and her family. Local nonprofit Healthy Learning Paths sponsored a bone marrow drive at the Children's Wellness Day, raising awareness of Amanda's plight and of blood disorders, and registering potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program.
Amanda endured chemotherapy, radiation and two bone marrow transplants. The second initially appeared successful, and after spending 151 days in Children's Hospital Amanda was able to go home.
About 50 or so friends, neighbors, classmates and teachers from Ryan Elementary School were at Amanda's March 6, 2009, homecoming, ready to greet her the moment she left the car. She was a step ahead of them when her father's car pulled into the driveway, standing with her head and shoulders rising through the car's sunroof.
Sadly, the good times would not last. Severe complications appeared within 100 days of the second transplant, restarting the cycle of extended hospital stays and endless medical tests.
In July 2009, doctors determined Amanda had Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder. The disorder causes tumors to spread through a transplant patient's body. Doctors found tumors on Amanda's brain stem and in her stomach and lungs, leading to more extended hospital stays before her death.
Amanda is survived by her mother, Michelle; father, Arlando; sister, Tionna, and brother, Jayden.
About 50 mourners used the Children's Hospital Web site to share their condolences and memories of Amanda.
"My heart and thoughts and prayers are with you. Amanda has been such a fighter and blessing in so many people's lives. (Michelle, thanks for sharing her with me.) May God bring you comfort and peace in many different ways," commenter Jill Fontaine wrote.
Many writers noted they had never met Amanda or her family before, but were touched by the story of her fight.
People who knew Amanda felt more strongly about the girl.
"She got right into people's hearts," said Robin Techmanski, principal of Ryan Elementary, Amanda's grade school. "She was very considerate of others, very involved and very active."
Students held several fundraisers to support Amanda, and the school community turned out to show their support and love, Techmanski said. A benefit concert had to be relocated from the elementary school because there wasn't enough space.
"We had so many people come we had to use the high school gym," she said.
Amanda's funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Broomfield United Methodist Church, 545 W. 10th Ave. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Rundus Funeral Home, 1998 W. 10th Ave.