Kelsey Michelle Dickson

Kelsey Michelle Dickson, of Miami, Florida, Born June 26, 2004, passed away peacefully into the hands of God on September 17, 2014. She was 10 years old and leaves behind a large, loving family: Her father, Andy, her mother, Raquel, her big brother Kyle. She is also survived by her Grandmothers Andree, Phyllis and Maria Antonia, her grandpa Raul (Papi), uncle Mike (Raquel’s brother) and her aunt Suzanne (Andy’s sister), as well as her Maltese puppies Sassy and Scooter. She also leaves behind an amazing group of close friends: The Sanchez Family (Ed, Dara and their children, Miranda and Marissa – her “sisters”), her caring school principal, and many teachers and classmates at Cutler Ridge Elementary.

On January 6, 2014, Kelsey was diagnosed with an extremely rare, aggressive form of cancer – MERKEL CELL, which usually strikes older patients; however, in true Kelsey fashion, Kelsey was the FIRST reported case of such cancer in a child, in the world. Her treatment was not in vain and will serve to help doctors identify this type of cancer in other children, which until now has been misdiagnosed. Kelsey was blessed with excellent medical care from the tireless teams at Baptist Children’s Hospital, Rutgers Institute of New Jersey and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard University.

Since her diagnosis this past January, she fought a valiant fight that allowed her to stay 8 blessed months on this earth with us.

Kelsey taught us to think of others before one’s self. She exemplified this by allowing herself to be a spokesperson for the Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation Organization. Ignoring her own illness, she fought tirelessly and selflessly to raise awareness for other children afflicted by cancer, all the while knowing her prognosis was terminal. Hers was a life well lived. She personified beauty both inside and out.

As Kelsey always said, “THERE ARE ONLY RAINBOWS AFTER RAIN…”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks to graciously continue Kelsey’s legacy through donating to help further pediatric cancer research to find a cure to save the lives of pediatric cancer patients: www.pediatriccancertreatmentfoundation.org

Service to be held at 10:30am, Friday morning September 19th at Christ Fellowship Church, 8900 SW 168th Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida.

Arrangements are under the direction of Branam Funeral Home, in Homestead, FL.