Ceili Anne Leahy

Ceili Anne Leahy, 19, writer, student, humanitarian, and purveyor of peace, love, and justice, of Fredericksburg, VA, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, in Washington, DC, following a courageous struggle with cancer.

Ceili was born in Washington, DC, where she lived and attended public school. She received First Communion at St. Peter's Church on Capitol Hill. At age 8, she moved with her family to Frederickburg, Va., to be closer to her grandparents.

In July 2013, before her senior year of high school, Ceili was diagnosed with metastatic Ewings sarcoma. Over the next 10 months, she was treated by a team of loving, talented doctors and nurses at Children's National Medical Center in DC. Aggressive chemotherapy and radiation proved successful and by the time she completed treatment she was cancer free.

A few weeks later, to a standing ovation, Ceili graduated from James Monroe High School. While at JM, she played soccer and ran cross country, worked on the school yearbook, and acted in plays, among other activities. As a member of JM's Amnesty International Club, Ceili developed her passion for human rights and justice. As club president, she grew club membership 10 fold and led many protests and marches. Ceili was greatly influenced and inspired by her teachers in Fredericksburg City Schools and went forth to set the world on fire.

Ceili attended the University of Virginia in the fall of 2014 majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in environments and sustainability. She thrived in the UVa community and was active in several clubs and campus organizations. Her relatives in Charlottesville observed, "Whenever there was a protest or demonstration, there was always a picture of Ceili in The Daily Progress." She returned occasionally to Children's Hospital as a volunteer, doing art projects and visiting with childhood cancer patients.

In April 2015, Ceili was diagnosed with treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia and began aggressive treatment, again at Children's Hospital in DC. During her lengthy stays at the hospital, she had countless visits from her Northern VA, DC, and Fredericksburg families, JM friends, and her UVa Squad. When it became clear her second cycle of treatment was not successful, Ceili orchestrated an "escape" from the hospital and spent a glorious day at the National Gallery of Art with her brother and parents. Certain doctors and nurses were rumored to be complicit in the escape.

In August 2015 Ceili decided to discontinue treatment so she could, in her words, "live vividly," free from chemo and pain medication. She was interviewed on local radio on September 1, 2015, to kick off Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and discussed her decision to stop treatment. During the interview Ceili mentioned her wish to see the Rocky Mountains again. Within 48 hours the Fredericksburg community had marshalled the resources to send Ceili and her family to Colorado for four spectacular days. While there, Ceili, who loved flying, was invited to co-pilot a small, single-engine plane. It was the thrill of a lifetime. She was interviewed again when she returned home and shared her joy, wonder, and delight with many listeners.

Her last few vivid months were filled with countless blessings: visits to incredible friends in New York City, Maine, and at Yale and UVa; visits from incredible family and friends from Northern VA, DC, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and beyond; quality time with a terrific boyfriend. As Ceili would say, "You only live once and, if you do it right, once is enough."

Ceili loved camping, cooking, sailing, mountains and water, swimming, traveling, and learning about new cultures and people. She was passionate about human rights and justice and had little patience for intolerance. She had the power to make people see the goodness in themselves simply by being kind no matter their history or struggles.

More information about Ceili's journey may be found on Ceili's website at Caringbridge.org/visit/ceilileahy.

A funeral mass will be held at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fredericksburg, VA, on Monday, February 8, 2016, at 11:00 am. A reception will follow in the Parish Center.

Ceili is survived by her brother John F. Leahy, her parents John and Leslie Leahy; her paternal grandfather, John E. Leahy; her maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Helene Gaffney; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and kindred spirits.

While the physical life may end, the communication between two souls is eternal. -- Ceili Leahy

Memorial Donations. Ceili worked hard to make the world a better place. Here are some ways you can further her mission:

1. The organization that helped Ceili's family daily in their struggle with cancer is the Fairy Godmother Project. FGP is launching a bereavement program and will continue to support the Leahys and other families that have lost a child to cancer:

Give the Gift of Time!

2. Ceili also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Charlottesville while at UVa and loved using her hands to create affordable housing. Please give to your local Habitat, her Charlottesville chapter, or our Fredericksburg Habitat:

Habitat Fredericksburg

http://www.fredhab.org/site/ways-to-give/

Habitat Charlottesville

Donate to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville

3. And Ceili worked tirelessly for human rights and had great passion for justice. She organized many events through her James Monroe High School Amnesty International Club:

Amnesty International: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?other_amount=&ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=25646&amount=other

Some of us have more time than money, others more money than time. All of these organizations have ways you can give either or both.