Tralee girl, 10, donated her hand to help others during cancer battle, funeral hears
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The funeral Mass of a little girl who had campaigned for better health services for families coping with cancer has heard how she “donated her hand to help others” during her illness.
Lily Anna Sebestova, aged 10, from Tralee, Co Kerry, was diagnosed three years ago with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and sadly died on Friday.
Her family had helped raise funds for cancer research and had highlighted the long journeys they made from Kerry to Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin throughout her treatment.
Speaking at her funeral in Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church in Tralee on Monday, her mother Lorraine said Lily was by far “the biggest and best advocate for herself in her journey of cancer".
“Her diagnosis did not stop her,” she said. “She had her hand amputated and by the time we got home the following morning she was down looking for pancakes and she was whisking the batter next to me.
“She donated her hand, she signed that paper in the hopes of changing lives. She did that.”
The Requiem Mass, which was partly celebrated in Slovakian for family online, heard how Lily who was a “huge fan” of skincare and make-up and was delighted to meet her idol Olivia Rodrigo at the 3 Arena in April.
The American star’s song 'Driver’s License' was also sung by a friend at the service.
The packed congregation lined up to comfort her heartbroken family including her mother Lorraine and father Jozef, and siblings Dean, Jack, Eli, Muireann, and Sabhadh.
Her mother also joked that she owed some people an apology for her daughter’s “direct nature":
“People all over the world showed love for her and supported her.
"She might have been unfiltered, and you may have been on the receiving end of it, we apologise for that,” she joked.
“At the beginning, I felt I should wear this plaque saying I do apologise for my daughter. But by the time everyone got to know her, they kinda just knew the sassy girl that she was.”
The Mass also heard how Lily was preparing for her “next journey” and even bought bracelets for her mother and aunt before she died.
“That’s what our Lil did,” said her mother.
“She gave us all a little something, a little memory, and a little boost.
“And all I’ll ask of you is, to fight like a child.”
• Lily Anna Sebestova's death notice on RIP.ie.