Farewell to our brave Danielle
MOURNERS GATHER TO CELEBRATE LIFE OF COURAGEOUS CANCER BATTLER, 27
TRIBUTES have been paid to a, “vibrant, friendly, determined and gorgeous,” 27-year-old who was still supporting others going through cancer, weeks before her death.
It was standing room only at St Christopher’s Parish Church in Priesthill for the funeral of Danielle Hosie, who publicly documented her six-year battle with a rare cancer to raise awareness and offer hope and support to others going through the same ordeal.
The humanist service was led by Kirsty Harvey, who said Danielle “blew her away” with her bravery after the pair met at Glasgow’s Southern General hospital, the day before she had her first, 16-hour operation to remove a tumour from her face.
She said that two weeks before her death Danielle, who was from Mount Florida, was still acting as a “cheerleader” for people suffering form cancer, personally answering emails.
She said: “It’s only a very special person who can continue to do this. Danielle had a heart as strong as a lion.”
A song written by Glasgow singersongwriter Liam Doyle, If I Only Had One Day, and performed by Andy Gillespie of Simple Minds, was played during the touching service.
Danielle’s coffin was carried by her “treasured” close, female friends, including best friend Jenna Kelly, who broke down as she read a poem, and told how she dreamed of a “magic pill,” to cure Danielle, who owned her own beauty business.
Danielle’s devoted sister Tonilea, 19, told how the 27-year-old had planned every detail of the service, choosing the Spice Girls, Goodbye and Tina Turner’s Simply the Best.
She asked her friends to carry her coffin, saying, “no parent should have to do it.”
Kirsty Harvey said she was “truly humbled” to have been asked to lead the service by Danielle herself and delivered a touching and affectionate eulogy, which was interspersed with humour.
She told how Danielle had worn a pair of bright pink and gold John Lennon-style glasses to school as a child and refused to take them off for the entire day.
She said: “We are here to celebrate Danielle’s life but we have to acknowledge that this is a sad day.
“I hope we can do Danielle proud and reflect her all-round glittery personality.
“She was vivacious, bold and packed full of confidence.
“She danced from a young age and adored a party.”
Kirsty continued: “Danielle blew me away when our paths crossed at the Southern General, the day before she was due to have her first operation.
“She was so warm and friendly and must have been terrified but she excuded a calmness as we talked together.
“We said goodbye and I thought of her often, hoping that her operation had been successful.
“Our paths crossed again by sheer coincidence a few years later. Over the next six year, she fought tooth and nail and she was a cheerleader to so many people along the way.”
Danielle told how it took three years for her to be diagnosed with Polymorphis Adenocarcinoma, because, “no one expected a girl of my age, especially a non-smoker to get this type of cancer.”
The cancer only affects around one person every seven years, and she told how there was very little research.
Due to the size of the tumour, Danielle had to have the left half of her face removed from the inside.
Over five years, she endured eight months of chemotherapy 87 rounds of radiotherapy, 20 operations and four blood transfusions but continued to fight and planned a party when she was told she only had six months to live.
After the service, close family and friends made their way to Mearns Cemetery, where balloons were released at the graveside and glitter was thrown onto her coffin.
l If you have been affected by cancer, support is available at Maggie’s Centres in Glasgow and Lanarkshire. For more information go to www.maggiescentres. org