Brittany Sleeth stood at a lectern before hundreds of people, whispered “oh God,” took a few deep breaths and then squeezed the pendant around her neck.
The pendant, a gift from a friend, pulses when squeezed to mimic a recording of Sleeth’s daughter’s heartbeat.
Sleeth’s 10-year-old daughter, Vivian, passed away July 15 after a three-year battle with a rare form of brain cancer.
The feeling of Vivian’s heartbeat gave Sleeth the unfathomable strength she needed to eulogize her daughter July 29. Roughly 300 people, many wearing clothing festooned with two of Vivian’s favorite things – the color blue and dinosaurs — gathered at First Baptist Church Merritt Island to celebrate the fierce, vivacious little girl.
Vivian captured the hearts of many shortly after she was diagnosed with DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), a rare, aggressive pediatric brain cancer, in June 2022. At the time, doctors told Vivian’s mom the little girl likely had six to nine months left and to “go home and make memories.”
She fought the deadly beast for more than three years.
‘I know Vivian has been healed now’
“I know Vivian has been healed now, fully healed. It just wasn’t the healed we all wanted,” Sleeth said while holding a blue stuffed dinosaur her daughter slept with every night. “Viv wasn’t just a warrior, she was a light. She had an energy about her that filled any room she entered.”
Sleeth told stories about Vivian’s constant desire to help others, a trait that started when she was young. Vivian always wanted to carry cash to tip people or give money to those she thought needed it.
“She would say, ‘Mommy, they need it more than I do,’” Sleeth recalled.
That generosity never faded, even in Vivian’s final months when her vision blurred and she needed assistance walking. About two months before she passed Vivian was honored at an event in Melbourne Beach.
While the crowd milled around socializing, eating and drinking, an exhausted Vivian sat on the ground. Someone gave her candy. Vivian used what strength she had to reach her hand up and give candy to a young girl standing by her.
“Even in her final days she still never complained,” Sleeth said. “She apologized for the things I had to do for her.”
Sleeth spoke about her daughter’s ability to light up a room, make friends with anyone. That was evident in the outpouring of support from the community.
Several law enforcement departments had a presence at the celebration of life for Vivian, who dreamed of one day being a police officer. She was sworn in as an honorary Brevard County Sherriff’s deputy, a firefighter with the Rockledge Fire Department and as an honorary Titusville Police officer and then promoted to honorary chief.
Titusville Police Chief John Lau gave an emotional speech about Vivian.
“She truly crawled into each and every one of our hearts,” Lau said. “Thank you for sharing Vivi. She will always be a part of our family.”
A large contingent from Vivian’s school, Viera Elementary, was in attendance. Teachers, administrators and students shared memories of Vivian, cried together and hugged each other. Principal Adrienne Schwab recalled the “firecracker” she met back when Viera Elementary first opened and Vivian was entering kindergarten.
“Her love for life was absolutely,” Schwab paused to compose herself before finishing. “contagious.”
She went on to say how Vivian gave the biggest hugs, loved fiercly and was always the heart of her class.
“She changed lives, including mine,” Schwab said. “Vivian will continue to shine in the halls of our school. She will forever be a falcon and never ever be forgotten.”
Personalized music written about Vivian played while mourners viewed a slideshow of photos from the little girl’s short life. There were photos of her as a toddler making silly faces, tons of pictures of Vivian with her arms wrapped around her big brother Corbin and dozens of pictures of her flexing her muscles – even when her body was showing signs of cancer.
“She often reminded me, ‘Mommy, everyone has to die. When God is ready for me, I’ll be ready,” Sleeth said, squeezing the pendent around her neck.
Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at Mspitzer@Floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hundreds attend celebration of life for Brevard girl, 10, who died from rare brain cancer
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
