Letters to Ann

Dear Ann,

As I sit at my computer writing this it is the first day of spring which is indicative of new life but, sadly today was the closure of a beautiful young life, that of Hannah Rye whom I have been thinking of quite a lot lately. It is a sad story, but also one of courage & a positive attitude.

I never knew about Hannah until a couple of months ago when the story unfolded in our local newspaper. I seem to have empathy with names, as I have told you about Emma & what the name meant to me. So it is with Hannah, another name I love as it also belonged to my Gran who had so much influence in my early life when my Mother brought me into this world when she was so young herself.

I was eleven years old when Gran was taken. I had no one to cry my heart out to as my Mum was taken to hospital overdue in expecting her fourth child. Our family Doctor wanted her to be under his wing when informed of her Mother’s passing.

I never ever heard what transpired when Mum was told. It is only as I write this I realise how lonely & sad this was for her as she too, had no one to help bear the grief. Mum & I were suffering the same pain at the same time.

Gran’s passing was my first experience with death & I was heart broken. I can remember thinking that no way was anyone going to take my Gran away from me. I was determined I would go to Wivenhoe Cemetery where she was buried & dig her up to bring her back home!

In my childishness I had no idea how this was going to happen, but the thought stayed with me for quite a time. I found it so hard to let Hannah Amelia Graham go as I loved her so much.

I think she knows that as all of my life I have felt Gran was close to me & to this day I find it hard to speak of her without tears. However, I also feel she has followed me throughout my life & watched over me so much so that at times when I knew I was doing something naughty I would think “I hope Gran isn’t watching me right now!”

Having told you this I realise that it could have been the name “Hannah” which first caught my eye when it came to Hannah Rye’s story. At thirteen she was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer that was terminal.

Having been through this experience myself I guess it was another reason why it caught m eye. Somehow she had gone through her schooling in the next two years & graduated so that she could attend her formal at the end of the year with all who had graduated with her.

Apparently, by the middle of this year she was very weak & it was doubtful that she would live long enough for her to attend her formal. The Principal at her school then made a decision for the event to be brought forward so that Hannah could attend, which was a lovely thought.

It was told in our local paper, The Herald, & showed photos of Hannah hanging onto the arm of one of our famous footballers who offered to be her partner. The formal was held in July when Hannah was very weak & the medical team had to give her strong medication to help her get through the evening & apparently Hannah handled it brilliantly.

The story touched my heart as it did the whole country. The following Sunday evening, when I was up at David’s for dinner, Riley was chatting to me about Hannah & what a lovely gesture this was from her school Principal & her fellow school mates.

Scarcely a month passed & on the last day of August as I walked into the Patisserie to have my lunch I picked up my favourite paper, the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The first thing I saw was a photo of Hannah making headlines on the front page. She was devoid of hair because of chemo therapy, but had a beautiful smile that breaks your heart.

I instinctively knew that Hannah has passed on. I know it sounds weak, but I was in tears before I sat down. Hannah had endeared herself through her bravery & her story affected many people. I think we were all feeling for her loving parents who had her close right to the end & genuine comfort poured out to them from our hearts. Even the media were touched & this is what I read on that day:

“Courageous Teenager remembered as a ‘shining star.”

The write up said:

‘This is how the family of Hunter Valley girl Hannah Rye wants everyone to remember the brave teen, beaming from ear to ear & full of the joy of life.

After stealing the hearts of the nation when the fifteen year old took Newcastle Knights Star, Trent Hodgkinson as her date to the Kurri Kurri High School Formal, the last picture of Hannah’s dazzling smile & twinkling eyes will be a constant reminder of her positivity even as death’s shadow loomed.

Hannah at her Formal.

We have been overwhelmed about the outpouring of love by everyone who was touched by her smile, her strength, her courage & her kindness her Mum, Rachael Rye told the Daily Telegrath.

We have been incredibly blessed as a family to have been able to fill Hannah’s last months with such joy. Our beautiful Hannah fought with such grace & dignity.she lit up our world & captured the heart of a nation’.

The Year 10 Student passed away peacefully on Sunday evening held close by her parents.’

I expect Hannah’s story is only one of many such sad cases around the world, but every now & then you get to read how good the world is with a kind action given, in this case, by the principal of the school, Tracy Breese, to hold the formal early. It certainly did touch the hearts of many.

Apparently Hannah’s Dad, Lance, is a motor cyclist & one hundred motor cyclists arrived at the funeral to honour Hannah & say say farewell to her as she was taken to her final resting place while hundreds of purple balloons were released to the afternoon sky. It was a sad day & Hannah will be remembered.

God Bless & Much Love. Dawn X O X O