Brooklyn Center Family Loses Daughter To Rare Infection
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Today, hundreds turned out to celebrate the life of a five year old girl who died suddenly.
Persephonee Norma Banks died from bacterial strep on Thursday. Friends of the family held a huge party to remember this bright little girl who enjoyed spreading love wherever she went.
"Everything about her is all over this place," said friend Angela Jarvis.
Just one look around and you can tell Persephonee had lots of favorite things -- her favorite colors were pink and purple. She also loved rainbows, pixie dust, cotton candy and Frozen.
"She lived life and that's what she taught me was to live life and love life and just worry about the important things like love and sharing with friends and family," her father Chris Banks said.
Chis and Amee say they feel blessed to have had Persephonee in their lives.
"She was our life she was everything," Chris Banks said.
The little girl with the radiant smile touched so many people. How she spread joy, love and peace is documented by the messages from those who knew her, as well as those who are just learning her story.
"When I heard the story it affected me all week and it's been on my mind," Jarvis said.
Persephonee died unexpectedly this week. Doctors say a strain of bacterial strep that's hard to detect claimed her life.
"There are so many people that this story touched," Jarvis said.
People like Angela Jarvis, a friend of a friend of Amee and Persephonee was like so many. She doesn't really know the family but felt compelled to be here.
"I wanted some support from my people and then my people became their peoples people and it went on and one and on we wouldn't have got thru this week without our people and the love and the support," Amee Banks said.
So with smiles on their faces the group of more than 600 celebrated...just like Persephonee would, if she was here.
"Hearing children laugh and play and run it gives me strength," Banks said.
Persephonee's parents want people to read her story and figure out how you can continue her life mission of love, sharing, peace and happiness.
Persephonee will live on in others. She was a donor and already three young lives have been saved because of Persephonee's sharing spirit.
If you want to help the family, you can donate to their GoFundMe campaign.