Life of Nevaeh Denine

Honourable senators, a man by the name of Edward Everett Hale once said:

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.

My fellow senators, with that well-known quote in mind today, I am honoured and privileged to be given the opportunity to tell you about Newfoundland and Labrador’s newsmaker of the year for 2018. It is not some politician, business person, sports hero, media personality or local volunteer. That is not to say that in Newfoundland and Labrador we do not have many wonderful people in all those fields and other walks of life who definitely could have been named newsmaker of the year. But in 2018, one of our local newspapers, The Telegram, selected as their newsmaker of the year a little 9-year-old girl by the name of Nevaeh. The name Nevaeh is “heaven” spelled backwards. By the time I finish telling you her life story today, you will understand the importance of this name.

Nevaeh Joey Veronica Denine came into this world at 8:53 a.m. on the bright and sunny morning of July 27, 2009. She was a healthy, beautiful, blue-eyed, strawberry blonde girl. It was a bittersweet moment for her mom, Holly, and for their entire family because sadly, Nevaeh’s dad, Joey, had passed away less than five months before on March 5, 2009.

As a single mom, Holly was determined, with the support of her family, to give Nevaeh the best life possible and could not wait to tell her daughter what an amazing man that her dad had been. Joey’s presence continued to be felt through the life and actions of their precious little girl.

Early on, Nevaeh experienced frequent urinary tract infections, but knowing that this was very common among young children, her mom, Holly, was not overly concerned about it at the time. When Nevaeh was around 22 months old, Holly brought her to the hospital for a routine ultrasound to check for kidney reflux. When the radiologist finished taking some pictures, she turned the lights back on, looked at Holly and said, “Okay, Mom, I have to go get the head radiologist to look, but I think your daughter has cancer.” Holly felt a numbness engulf her, and after making contact with some family members, she lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

This beautiful little angel, less than 2 years old, was quickly admitted to the hospital and the medical team immediately carried out a battery of tests, including bone scans, bone marrow biopsies and blood work, among other testing. Holly remained at her daughter’s bedside crying and praying.

The doctors discovered that Nevaeh had stage one neuroblastoma over her right kidney. Neuroblastoma is a rare type of cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body. This cancer most commonly arises in and around the adrenal glands, which have similar origins to nerve cells and sit atop the kidneys. However, neuroblastoma can also develop in other areas of the abdomen and in the chest, neck and near the spine, where groups of nerve cells exist.

The disease most commonly affects children aged 5 or younger, though on rare occasions it may occur in older children. Neuroblastoma, which represents 95 per cent of tumours in the sympathetic nervous system, represents 5 per cent of all childhood cancers.

Within a few days following her diagnosis, Nevaeh had surgery and the doctors removed a tumour from her body measuring 2 centimetres by 2 centimetres, along with her right adrenal gland. Nevaeh recovered well from her surgery and through follow-up tests and ultrasounds every six months, she showed great progress. She was quickly growing up to be an amazing child with an infectious laugh and was developing a great love for animals. Even at this very tender, young age, her incredible spirit was an inspiration to everyone around her.

In November 2013, just over two and a half years after her first scare with cancer, Holly came home from work to find that Nevaeh had a black eye. After talking to the workers at the daycare facility and questioning family and friends, there was no answer forthcoming for what had happened to her eye. The black eye did not fade away and after several days Holly became very concerned and took Nevaeh to the family doctor. Although the doctor was unable to explain the cause of the black eye at that time and later as the black eye showed no signs of improvement, Holly became very concerned, frustrated and searched to find an explanation.

On December 20 — which, by the way, was her dad’s birthday — Nevaeh had a full-body MRI, and on December 23, Holly was told that her daughter’s cancer was back with a vengeance. The cancer was almost everywhere in her little body except for her organs and brain. After more testing and a trip to Halifax for an MIBG scan, the family found out that the neuroblastoma was back and they were in for the fight of their lives.

In January 2014, Nevaeh began her chemotherapy treatments. In March, the family travelled to the Toronto SickKids Hospital where Nevaeh had a stem cell harvest. For six hours each day for a period of two days, Neveah was hooked up to the machine that retrieved her stem cells.

They returned to the hospital in Toronto in June where Nevaeh had a very strong dose of chemo and the stem cells were transfused back into her body. Through it all, the little girl maintained a positive attitude and kept up the good fight, saying repeatedly to her mom, “Let’s go kick cancer’s butt, Mom.”

Although through all the difficult times for Holly, Nevaeh and the family, the local community came together and did what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do best, help someone out in their time of need. They organized several fundraisers to help ease the financial burden and stress that so often exists during times such as this. The family would be forever grateful for the monetary support as well as the many acts of kindness shown to them.

Nevaeh continued to participate in all her regular activities as best she could. She attended KinderStart, went to play groups and attended a “Shave for the Brave” fundraising event. She participated in activities such as the winter carnivals and other social events to help other kids learn about her condition. She was just so full of energy and enthusiasm.

The family was overwhelmed by the support from the community and wanted to find a way to give back for all the assistance that they had received. While going through rounds of chemotherapy and watching the Janeway Children’s Hospital Annual Telethon while she herself was in a hospital bed, Nevaeh imagined out loud about starting the world’s biggest lemonade stand to help other children facing a disease such as hers. Life had given her lemons so she wanted to make lemonade.

With the help of a dedicated group of family and friends, Nevaeh’s first lemonade stand was held in 2014 and was a tremendous success, raising in excess of $22,000. The money raised from this event provided monetary support for five different children with pediatric cancer and their families in Newfoundland and Labrador. This event was a tremendous success and plans for the second lemonade stand were soon underway, and Nevaeh was extremely pleased and excited.

On a Sunday afternoon in the summer of 2015, Nevaeh’s lemonade stand, located in the Goulds area of the City of St. John’s, brought more than 7,000 people out in support and raised in excess of $40,000, even with the event having to be held indoors because of inclement weather. The event featured several performances from musical groups such as the Masterless Men and the Celtic Fiddlers as well as appearances from Allan Hawco of “Republic of Doyle” fame and Mark Critch of “This Hour has 22 Minutes.” Nevaeh had a very busy day meeting and greeting all the people in attendance, and the little girl was given the opportunity to appear on stage and sing along with the Masterless Men. Nevaeh was on top of the world with the impact and success her lemonade stand was having, and it was not about to stop there. This annual event — a lemonade stand, I remind you — has grown by leaps and bounds and has become a very special and heartwarming celebration. Since 2014, Neveah’s lemonade stand has raised more than $300,000 to assist 43 different children who are battling pediatric cancer within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

All money raised goes directly to the sick children and their families to alleviate the financial stress that cancer can bring by providing monetary support to assist with travel and hospital costs, accommodations, meals and so much more.

For ten months, Nevaeh was in remission from this disease and living cancer free. Sadly, in February 2016, her cancer relapsed. Through more intense rounds of chemotherapy and treatment, Nevaeh never lost her courageous smile that lit up her face and the faces of those around her.

On August 6, 2018, Nevaeh entered the gates of heaven on the wings of the angels and was welcomed into her father’s loving arms for the first time. This form of cancer, which had also taken her father away from her, now united them.

Her struggles on this earth were over and she was now at peace. Even though her days with us were few, she savoured every moment and left an incredible legacy, not only, do I believe, to our own province, but across the nation and globe. A precious little girl who touched the lives of everyone who shared her life’s journey. I doubt if Nevaeh understood the magnitude of the impact of her life on the people around her, which caused them to look at the world in a different and more positive way. Thinking about Nevaeh and her way of dealing with such a tremendous and difficult situation fills me with a great sense of awe and admiration for this little angel.

When her mom asked her how she felt about having cancer, Nevaeh replied, “I like having no hair because I don’t have to get tangles brushed out. I’m special, little girls and boys like me, ’cause people know we are heroes when they see us with no hair.” And then she said to Holly, “Mom, write also that I am happy to be me.”

What an incredible positive attitude for a 9-year-old girl dealing with cancer. She definitely left her mark on this world and the many people she encountered.

I would like to take a moment to share with you what some other people thought about the life and legacy of this little girl.

Stephanie O’Brien, a local radio personality with our OZFM station in St. John’s, who became a very dear friend of both Nevaeh and Holly —

Stephanie O’Brien, a local radio personality with our OZFM station in St. John’s, who became a very dear friend of both Nevaeh and Holly, said that Nevaeh had a purpose, and her purpose was to make a difference. She made a difference bigger than they ever thought a child could. Nevaeh was the maid of honour at Stephanie’s wedding, and Stephanie said that she was, “The best, most kind and caring friend I’ve ever had.” Ms. O’Brien went on to say that knowing Nevaeh changed her life, and that she taught her how to live by example and showed her that life is truly what you make of it.

The editor of the Newfoundland Herald, Ms. Pam Pardy-Ghent, said that “Navaeh made the impossible possible.” Ms. Pardy Ghent went on to say that “Nevaeh and her pitchers of lemonade truly stood for something very important and that legacy will no doubt live on. That is something that should make us all proud.”

Upon hearing of Nevaeh’s passing, Danny Breen, the Mayor of St. John’s, had this to say: “Our thoughts and prayers are with a sweet little girl who taught us all about courage, caring and love — an inspiration to us all.”

Lisa Gray said that because of Nevaeh, lemons taste much sweeter on the Island of Newfoundland, and Andrea Somerton added that Nevaeh was loved by our province and was a beautiful ray of light.

Another lady by the name of Heidi Seaward said this: “Bravery, positivity, strength, determination and a zest for life. This little girl had made her mark on the world in such a short amount of time. To her family and close friends, know that she mattered. She changed the world for the better, and she left a lasting impression on so many.”

Colleagues, I hope I have done justice in my attempt to tell you all about this remarkable young girl who in nine short years on this earth had such an incredible and positive effect on the lives of so many people. Her story proves to each of us that not all superheroes wear capes. Some make lemonade and change lives.

I believe that choosing Nevaeh Joey Veronica Denine as Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2018 Newsmaker of the Year was the perfect choice in so many ways. She most certainly left this place much better than how she found it.

When thinking of Nevaeh and her life’s journey, which consisted of just nine short years, the words of Mother Theresa come to mind when she said: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” There is no doubt of the ripple effect that Nevaeh’s life had on this world. Through her energy, determination and compassion, she brought out the best in the people she encountered and clearly showed us that one person can definitely change the world. She taught us so much in such a short period of time.

I believe that it would only be proper to leave the last word of the life and legacy of Nevaeh with the woman who brought her into this world, her mom, Holly. In a year-end interview with the Telegram, Holly said the following: “Even though she has passed away, I’m still the luckiest person in the world, you know, to be her mom. I am so lucky that I was chosen to be her mom, even though all this had to happen. It’s hard but I am so proud.” Holly finished by saying, “When I think back on it, she was the teacher and I was the student. And she made me so much a better person.”

What a wonderful legacy to leave behind. Rest in peace, sweet angel. Rest in peace.