Kailyn Loralai May Danielson

            On Sunday, June 28, 2009 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the incredibly proud parents Amy (nee Chegus) and Clint Danielson, of Kailyn Loralai May Danielson welcomed their beautiful little girl into the world at 11:29 pm.

            During her short years on earth, Kailyn loved her life very much.  She was mommy’s beautiful “Miss K” and “Daddy’s Girl”.  She was the middle and only girl, with two brothers that loved and protected her.  Kailyn spent her childhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba where she would adventure all over the city with her mom and little brother to parks, play structures and her older brothers school where there was a family room to learn and play.  She loved going to the mall with her dad where she asked for loonies to no end to ride the merry-go-round.  At only two years old, Kailyn discovered her love for horses at Miracle Ranch and at her grandpa’s riding by herself freely at only three years old.

            In 2014, when Kailyn and her family moved to Brandon, Manitoba, she joined gymnastics and thrived.  She graduated from Head Start where she expressed she wanted to grow up and be a doctor.  In 2017, her family returned to her father’s home town of Cranberry Portage and Kailyn’s love for her community grew forever strong in God’s Country.

            It was evident from a very early age, that Kailyn adored everything in nature.  She cherished everything from the tiny blades of grass, to the soaring eagle flying up above.  She was an earth child, she collected and marveled over rocks and stones on every outdoor adventure she and her family ever took.  She loved everything God put in front of her feet.  She once had a pet leech at Gyles Park, one of her two favorite places, the other being Rat Creek where she loved to fish brook trout with her parents and her brothers, Ayden and Nicholas.

            Kailyn was a proud Eagle at Cranberry Portage Elementary. She thrived here and the freedom of living and attending school in a small community brought out Kailyn's spunky personality and zest for life. She enjoyed art, math, science, reading, playing the fiddle and traditional drumming. In the mornings, she was always up at the crack of dawn, eager to see her friends and teachers. She excelled academically in school and was moved up from Grade 4 to the Grade 5 class where she met her favourite teacher. Her school was very supportive throughout Kailyn's diagnosis, students and staff shaved their heads and even flew down to see her in Winnipeg after being away for months in treatment. She loved her school very much. 

            Although her time on earth was only 11 years, Kailyn shared wisdom and courage that an elder would carry with them, especially after her cancer diagnosis on November 14, 2018 at the age of 9.  She gracefully accepted the diagnosis she was given of a grade 4 Astrocytoma Gliomatosis Cerebri.  Kailyn never showed any fear, even in moments one would think unimaginable, but Kailyn laughed and smiled being wheeled into the operating room for brain surgery!

            On March 26, 2019, she was awarded a medal of honour from our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the lengths she went to undergo treatment and her resiliency throughout it all.  In May of 2019, western medicines ended and her faith and spirituality conducted the way she lived the next 20 months on earth.  That was with the most important people in her life, her family, friends and her community of Cranberry Portage.

            On her journey on earth, she met a lot of people along the way that you would have thought had known her for a lifetime. Kailyn has shared many teachings, but the most important being to love yourself and others. She would always sing the song "don't worry, be happy".  Her favourite affirmation she always said to others was "you're beautiful just the way you are". Kailyn had a devotion to give and share everything she had and was known for her random acts of kindness. We give thanks to Grandmother Moon and the Creator for being able to share a gift so rare. Remember her teachings. Kailyn was called home to be one with her creator God, on January 14th, 2021.

            As she looked up to the sky, she reached for the stars, a life beyond anything beautiful on earth. Nothing you could ever imagine if you think you have seen beauty and pureness, an everlasting life where she is free of cancer, she is flying high, where only the most beautiful souls go to dance and ride horses. Doing cartwheels in the soft grass and pushing her cute toes through the warm sand and the sun beaming down on her cheeks, before running and jumping into the clearest most refreshing lake that has never been touched by pollution, there is no harm, only peace and sheer happiness as our beautiful most precious love Kailyn is with God, our Creator.

           Our love, our fearless warrior Miss K you are, and will forever be, beautiful just the way you are.

In keeping with family wishes, a celebration of life for Kailyn, our bright ray of light, will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Kailyn Danielson to Dr. Dirks Neurosurgery Research in Brain Cancer, c/o Sick Kids Foundation, 525 University Avenue, suite 835, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2L3 or to the Never Alone Cancer Foundation, Box 51064, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3C6 and would be greatly appreciated by Kailyn’s family.