A local family has invited the Bendigo community to help celebrate the life of their little girl, Jasmine Spark, who passed away this week from the rare genetic condition Batten disease.
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Her big eyes said a million words, even though she never spoke a word
- Robert Spark, father
Her father Robert and mother Carolyn said the family will always remember their daughter as “Jazzy”, with her big brown eyes and unmistakable red hair.
“Her big eyes said a million words, even though she never spoke a word,” he said.
“We want to celebrate how much of a fighter she was.
“She didn't seem scared of anything in life.”
Jasmine grew up a healthy and happy child who adored giraffes and loved jumping on the trampoline with her sisters.
But when she was three-and-a-half years old, she started having seizures.
Soon after, she was diagnosed with Batten disease – an extremely rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder robbed her of the abilities that most take for granted, including the simple functions of walking, seeing and eating.
But until the end, Jasmine was a bright and inquisitive child.
When she was no longer able to run and play with her siblings, her bed was placed in the centre of the room so she could be surrounded by her brothers and sisters running around and making noise.
It is not the first time tragedy has struck the family.
They lost their first child, Logan, to spina bifida.
Jasmine passed away at home on Saturday, November 28, and at the start of this year, they discovered their youngest child, Zephyr, also has Batten disease.
The condition is genetic, so each pregnancy for Carolyn and Robert carries a 25 per cent chance that the child will have the condition.
Jasmine is the beloved child of Robert and Carolyn Spark and sister to Logan (dec.), Caleb, Ryda, Harper, Phoenix and Zephyr.
She is also survived by her grandparents Sandra Fedke and Gail and Steve Spark.
The Bendigo community are invited to celebrate Jasmine’s life this Saturday, December 5, which would have been her eighth birthday.
The celebration will take place after the funeral service at William Farmers in Eaglehawk at 11am.
People will be invited to leave messages in colour on Jasmine’s coffin before a bunch of pink, purple and teal balloons will be released into the sky.
The celebration of Jazzy will be held at St Peter’s College from 12pm.
There will be a birthday cake and a Very Special Kids piggy bank, giving attendees the opportunity to donate to that group, should they wish to, or to Make A Wish or Heartfelt Photography.
