On May 10, 2018 at 11pm, in her home in Hamden, CT and surrounded by her mother and father, 6 year old Lea Doran lost her battle against DIPG. Lea was a joyful, creative, sweet and special soul who touched thousands of people. She brought communities together. She brought out the best in people. She showed us what it means to be brave. She showed us how to laugh and find joy in the face of adversity. She showed us how to love deeply and how to find the beauty in every day. She showed us what truly matters in life. From the day Lea was born, she made people smile and laugh with her bright smile, sparkling brown eyes and joyful, sometimes defiant, spirit. When Lea wasn’t present, people knew it, as she brought a “spark” to the room and exuded joy wherever she went. Even at a young age she knew who she was and danced to her own beat. She made us laugh and was a joy to be around. She took time to find the beauty in nature, reminding us to slow down, be present and “smell the roses.” Even in the face of cancer, Lea was able to be positive, smile, sing, snap and use her manners. In just nine months, Lea touched thousands of lives and brought awareness to a rare form of pediatric brain cancer. Lea’s bright light will be greatly missed. Lea is survived by her parents Michael and Christa Doran, her beloved sisters Livia and Keira, her maternal grandparents David & Tura Vancini, her paternal grandparents Michael & Marilyn Doran, her maternal aunt Kate Vancini, her paternal aunt & uncle & cousin Margaret, Jeff and James Lembke.
Family and friends are invited to go directly to St. Rita’s Church, 1620 Whitney Avenue, Hamden on Wednesday morning at 10:00 to attend a Mass of Christian burial and are also invited to attend the committal service immediately following in All Saints Cemetery. The visiting hours will be private. In lieu of flowers, we are requesting that you make a donation to the Connecticut chapter of the Cure Starts Now, which was started in Lea’s honor.
https://thecurestartsnow.org/get-involved/chapters/connecticut/
My deepest sympathy for all your family. I pray for the strength you will need to get through this horrific loss. She is now in heaven with all the angels,God Bless, Sandra Dercole
Im sorry for your loss ive been there done that
My deepest sympathy to the entire family. What a beautiful little girl. No more pain for Lea but her spirit will always live on.
The right words can be hard to find. Simply know that you are in my prayers each moment.
My deepest sympathy for your family !
Lea’s bright light touched many and put perspective
on many more. Thoughts and prayers. Godspeed🙏
Leo!
She sings with the angels in Heaven now, at peace with our Heavenly Father. I pray that our Father God wraps his arms of comfort around your family. The hardship is so great to bear. With the help of God and Lea herself, you will get through. Sending love and light to all of you.
I’m so very sorry for the loss of your amazing daughter. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.
Dearest Christa,
I am so very sorry for your unimaginable loss. I cannot even imagine the depth of your sorrow, but she is spreading her contagious joy in Heaven right now and you will see her again. We have prayed for Lea and your entire family this whole time and will continue to do so. God bless and keep you all.
Mike & Christa,
I’m so sorry to hear about Lea’s passing. Please know that you and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lea’s story and life has literally touched people around the globe. I am so very sorry for your loss and wish you love and comfort in the days, weeks, months and years to follow.
With deep sympathy,
Katelyn
My heart goes out to Christa, Mike and family. No one should have to bear the loss of a child. Prayers and hugs to you all and that you find peace and love around you in this difficult time.
There are no words to help ease this pain. Time may mellow the pain of this loss but Lea was such a profound strong warrior that she will never leave our memory or hearts. Sending you all prayers of love, strength and peace. Lea will always be with you and everyone she touched. God bless this angel.
Dear Lea,
I have been following your story closely as my daughter Alyssa fought for her life as well. She had anaplastic ependymoma and was 10 years old. Alyssa gained her Angel wings on April 17. I hope you two can meet in heaven and be friends. I hope you are meeting all the brain tumor kids and you are all running and playing together,fully healed and energetic as you once was. I truly believe God picks the best ones for his garden up in heaven. He just couldn’t wait to meet you guys.
Sending your mom, dad and sisters all my love.
Watch over them, guide them and fly high beautiful girl.
❤
I am heartbroken for the loss of your precious angel Lea. I can’t begin to imagine your pain but I know that she was a bright light and exuded joy wherever she went. I believe that God needs a special angel and He is holding her in His loving arms. Her light on this earth went out too soon but I believe the brightest star in heaven is Lea and she will be watching over all of you. May God bless you and give you strength as you face the unimaginable! I am so terribly sorry for your loss!!
I am so sorry to hear of this news. Lea was a sparkling, spunky, bright, beautiful young spirit. Full of life and positive energy. My heartfelt condolences go out to the entire family and Tuff Girl community.
Christa, My heart aches for you. I cannot imagine how strong you have been these past months. May you find comfort in the thought that because Lea was such a brilliant star she could only shine on this earth for a short time. Praying for peace and strength for you, Mike, Liv and Keira and your entire family and circle of friends. She left you far to soon.
Our prayers go out to your family for your loss. Lea was an extremely brave little girl who no longer has to fight this horrible battle. I believe she will always be with your family and one day, you will be with her again . This will not be goodbye , but a see you later ❤️❤️
I’m so sorry to hear of Lea passing. I did meet her a few times through Alicia with the other girls and she was always sweet and vivacious . My condolences to your family.
Please, allow me to express my dearest sympathies. I know how hard it is to lose someone so precious. What really helps me to cope is the hope we have of the resurrection back to life here on earth found at John 5:28,29 and Revelation 21:4. At that time we will be reunited with our loved ones. How wonderful that will be. Till then, lots of loving thoughts to the family. From a caring neighbor.
Words fail us. I wish I could say something that would make the pain go away. RIP LEA
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis. RIP
We are so sorry to hear of Lea’s passing. Our deepest sympathy goes out to your family at this horrific time, Please know that our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you and your family. May you find some comfort knowing Lea is at peace and with the lord at this time. God bless
We are so sorry to hear of Lea’s passing. Our deepest sympathies go out to your family at this horrific time. Your family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. May you find some comfort knowing Lea is at peace and with the lord. God bless.
I am sorry to hear this news. I know no words would ease away the pain your family is facing. My deepest sympathies to your family
❤❤❤❤❤❤ Huggs love prayers
God bless you all. Your dimpled angel will always be there for you. I am so very, very sorry for your loss. My heart aches for each and every one of you. Lea has inspired many. 💙
So terribly saddened by your loss. May peace and love envelope and support you all and may Lea’s memory be your strength.
There are no words that can bring comfort in the face of this devastating loss but praying you find some solace in loved ones in this difficult time. Thinking of you and praying for your beautiful family.
My sincerest sympathies are with you at this devastating time. Prayers for your whole family are coming. May God give you the strength to get through the coming days.
I’m sorry for your loss my prayers are with you!
Thoughts and prayers for your whole family, and for so many families your love has touched.
I am so sorry for the heartbreaking loss of Lea. She was inspiration just like her parents are. Her legacy continues and I hope that brings you some sort of peace. I am inspired by your strength, resilience, and love. I am humbled by your faith in god. You and your family are in my heart and prayers.
We fell in love with Lea during her visit with us. Her heart and bravery were an inspiration to all of us. Her spirit will be in our hearts always. May your memories of Lea give you strength. Our hearts and prayers are with you.
Your friends at ALEX AND ANI
My sincerest and deepest sympathy. There are no words anyone could say to help you right now. I will be sending my prayers to you and your family. You are an amazing woman to be sharing leas story. Her ups, her downs your up’s you’re down’s, with the heart wrenching struggle. God bless you all. Again my deepest sympathy
There are no words but know that my heart is hurting for you and your family…
Keeping Lea in our thoughts and prayers. Asking God to give you all strength now as you try to come to terms with the loss of this beautiful little girl. Love from the Gloucestershire branch of the Doran family.
We continue to pray for strength for you all to be able to deal with your loss. We pray for mercy that although your suffering won’t end, but that time will be kind in softening the sting. We pray that someday there will be a cure to this scourge, so that others will be saved from the pain your family has had to go through.
Oh how we love you all so. Our prayers of love and light are with you. Please know we love you so. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🌸💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
We are so very sorry to hear of your sweet Lea’s passing.
We are friends of Dave and Tura, and watched her grow from afar over the years. We can’t as a community possibly know the depth of your sorrow, but perhaps we can help carry it with you now. I hope the love surrounding you somewhat cushions the pain..Sending Love to you all.
May God continue to give you strength and courage. May he hold you tightly in his arms and grant you peace.
Christa & Mike,
There are no words to truly say how sorry
I am for your loss. Your family will remain
in my thoughts & prayers. Thinking of you all. Love you Christa
Our family was so very sorry to hear about Lea. Please know that you are in all of our thoughts and prayers through this very difficult time.
We love you,
Ed, Paia, Donyael, Eddie, Joe, Angela, Naarah & Kharece
Our hearts break for you. One cannot imagine the loss if such a beautiful “spark” from your life. Our prayers are with you all. May God’s strength support you now as you have supported us so well. God Bless you all and God Bless Lea’s beautiful soul.
So very sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. Sending love, light, and prayers.
Our hearts are broken at your loss. We send our deepest sympathies to Lea’s extended family.
When Lea told Mike about heaven “There may be candy” she knew she was going to a place of great joy where she will be an advocate as wise as any adult for you, Mike and her sisters. In your time of loss take comfort in the good.
Dear ones, you have been and always will be in the prayers of my family and loved ones. Always. <3
I am so sorry for your loss.
In meeting Lea at Alex and Ani, I realized that I have always known this remarkable loving child of yours. Her spirit is strong .. everlasting. She will continue to live in my prayers as do you, her loving family. With so much love, Judy
Hello,
Beloved One,
My name is Mrs. Caroline Giggs, This is a confidential mail,I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer, It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and Right now, I have only few months to live according to my doctor. I want you to use this Eight Million Eight Hundred thousand usd to help charities home as my promise to God. I will give you more details once i hear from you. me at reply carolinegiggs0@hotmail.com
yours sister in Christ,
Best regards,
Mrs Caroline Giggs
Right now, when your loss is so fresh, it may be difficult for you to imagine that this pain will ever go away. But in time the blessing of God’s unfailing love will soften the hurt you’re feeling and bring your heart the peace, comfort and hope that it needs to heal. How? Revelation 21:4 tells us that soon everything that causes us pain, including death, will be gone forever. We also have the hope of our loved ones being resurrected here on earth, as Acts 24:15 tells us. I do hope you find comfort in this.
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODMinistryTools/pub-imv_4_VIDEO
Hello,
Beloved One,
My name is Mrs. Caroline Giggs, This is a confidential mail,I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer, It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and Right now, I have only few months to live according to my doctor. I want you to use this Eight Million Eight Hundred thousand usd to help charities home as my promise to God. I will give you more details once i hear from you. me at reply carolinegiggs0@hotmail.com
yours sister in Christ,
Best regards,
Mrs Caroline Giggs