Missouri girl, 13, beat bone cancer...then weeks later, a freak accident struck
Jerilynn Brown had beaten bone cancer just weeks before the horrific fire that claimed her young life in the early hours of July 4.
'She just rang the bell, and a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl,' her father, Jerry Brown, told KMBC.
'She just got me to church. I quit drinking, 17 months. All that is because of her.'
Her stepfather, Stephen Miller, agreed that Jerilynn had a strong spirit, and told the outlet: 'Unfortunately, today, she's no longer with us. She's free.'
At about 5am, the Independence Fire Department responded to the home near Buckner following reports of a house fire.
According to the Department of Fire Safety and IFD, an investigation showed the fire started on the home's back deck due to embers of 'consumer-grade' spent fireworks from the night before.
The smoke alarm in the home wasn't working at the time, with three others in the property suffering injuries.
'To see a young girl who just beat cancer to have it end like this. I'm speaking on all of our folks, our heart goes out and we are all very upset about this as well,' IFD Chief Jimmy Walker told Fox 4.
According to the Department of Fire Safety and IFD, an investigation showed the fire started on the home's back deck due to embers of 'consumer-grade' spent fireworks from the night before
Crews reported that, as they arrived, the fire was strongly developed and they had to begin 'aggressive attack' operations, the outlet reported.
'Hours can elapse while a fire smolders, this can happen at any time, lightning strikes, we always have to worry about smoldering fires and the fact that they can go undiscovered for a number of hours and eventually become out of hand very quickly,' Walker said.
Two others were hospitalized in the fire. One of the victims in hospital reportedly succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, according to family.
Liz Stephens was identified as the victim currently recovering in hospital in a GoFundMe created to aid Jerilynn's family rebuild their home and lay their daughter to rest.
'Jerilynn was a bright, brave, and beautiful soul who had just overcome a long battle with cancer only two weeks prior,' the fundraiser said.
'Her strength and spirit touched everyone who knew her. To have her taken so suddenly after all she had endured is beyond heartbreaking.'
Jerrilynn had gone to the doctor in October last year with a suspected broken arm. As an active young girl, she and her family never suspected it had been broken due to a tumor.
She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that typically attacks the bones in arms and legs and typically develops in children and young adults.
'She just rang the bell, and a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl,' her father Jerry Brown said
Jerilynn had heartbreakingly only overcome her cancer just two weeks before the fire after enduring weeks of chemotherapy.
She was described by her family as a 'very active 13-year-old' who loved softball, basketball and her church youth group.
'Jerilynn loves helping others and is always making sure everyone is ok,' her family said while fundraising to help battle her cancer.
'It's hard for her to now be the one receiving all the attention when she is such a giver to others. She always has a smile on her face and loves hanging out with her friends.'
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