The parents of a five year old Texas girl fulfilled the wishes of their child in setting up a surprise parade for their terminally ill child Wednesday television station KHSB in Kansas City reported Thursday.
Patricia and Kevin Lankford of Dickinson, Texas gave their daughter Claire a carriage to ride around her neighborhood in the community led by adults, and a horse
Claire wore a Belle "Beauty and the Beast" costume which her mother also donned. Kevin was Prince Charming.
"We just want her to know she is loved. I think that's what anyone would want to know in their lifetime," Kevin told KSHB in Kansas City. "No matter how long or how short it may be and that they were here and they had friends and family and people that care about them," Kevin told KSHB.
Claire is fighting rhabdomyosarcoma, an unusual cancer without a cure KHSB reported. The illness recently worsened in January when medical professionals discovered her lungs had five tumors, and lymph nodes.
"She went through 42 weeks of chemotherapy and four weeks of radiation on her chest and six weeks of radiation on her spine," Patricia told television station KRIV in Houston. "Throughout her treatments she did not have her hair, her eyebrows or eyelashes but she was a source of joy for the doctors and nurses. She would walk around the hospital saying, 'Good evening, good afternoon. She walked the hallways receiving chemo and at the same time spreading joy," Patricia told KRIV. "It's an absolute dream.
Patricia is also a principal at the Hughes Road Elementary School in Dickinson, Texas.
"I envisioned a carriage, maybe a few people from the community and the school district to come out and support us," Patricia told KRIV. "This was incredible - incredible to think that people would want to come out and support my child. It's beautiful."
