Friends and family of a Fife teenager who lost her fight for life paid tribute by dressing in bright colours and sparkles.
The tragically short life of Leah Johnstone (16), of Leuchars, was celebrated at her funeral in St Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Tayport, which so many attended that an overspill room had to be used.
Leah’s mum Kim (40) told The Courier how the many mourners celebrated Leah’s love of brightly coloured and sparkly things.
A poem by one of her teachers at Kilmaron School, in Cupar, which described her fondness of pink and purple and referred to her as a “ray of sunshine,” was read out.
A special moment in Leah’s short life, when Dougie MacLean performed for her and other children at the Kinross hospice, Rachel House, was also recalled in the church when his song Caledonia was played.
And during a service at Kilmaron School, which caters for severely disabled children, a service was held during which pink, sparkly balloons were released.
Leah, who suffered from a rare chromosome disorder affecting her mobility, sight, lung function and hearing, passed away at the hospice last Saturday.
Kim and husband David (42), a former soldier with the engineers based at RAF Leuchars, were overwhelmed by the attendance at her funeral.
Kim said, “I’ve never known so many people. Leah touched so many people, there were people there we hadn’t seen for years. I felt so proud of her.”
She and David had cared for their daughter, who was born with part of a chromosome deleted, round the clock.
Devastated Kim said, “Leah was given six hours to live when she was born and we had 17 years. Every couple of years they said she was going to go.
“No matter how much you prepare yourself, it’s just a huge massive void in your life.”
Leah regularly visited Rachel House thanks to support from the Army Benevolent Fund.
On the day she died she had helped her mother and staff to get her dressed, but later in the day a staff member noticed her breathing had changed. Within 20 minutes she had gone.
Kim said, “When she went I felt totally at peace for her. She had had a long time fighting and struggling.”
She described her daughter as “amazing,” adding, “She was so little yet so big.
“She was very, very unselfish. Even at the end nothing was a drama, she just passed away.
“She inspired so many. She brought a different perspective into people’s lives; she always made people look at things differently.”
Leah had been delighted at being able to spend some time before she died with her niece, Katelynn, the six-month-old daughter of her brother David (20).