Kellie Larivee loved art. She loved to read, and embraced
books from an early age. I consider it a privilege to have
met Kellie, however briefly.
This page is dedicated to Kellie and her family, and all who miss her. |
I met Kellie Larivee in 1997, when I visited her elementary school: Streiber School of
Chicopee, Massachusetts. Kellie was introduced to me as one of the students who
created the beautiful mural inspired by the cover painting (by illustrator Chris K. Soentpiet) of
my book Peacebound Trains.
On January 8, 2000, Kellie Larivee died unexpectedly in her sleep.
She was only 13 years old.
Months later, Kellie's grief-stricken family learned
the cause of her death: Long QT Syndrome,
"an infrequent, hereditary disorder of the heart's electrical
rhythm that can occur in otherwise-healthy people. It usually affects children or young adults."
(American Heart Association)
Kellie's family is dedicated to raising public awareness of Long QT Syndrome, which
claims the lives of an estimated 3000 children and young adults annually in the United States alone.
To learn more about Long QT Syndrome, please visit
www.sads.org
and QTsyndrome.ch.
Related pages of interest:
Healthopedia.com: Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeat)
 Peacebound Trains mural created by the
students of Streiber School, Chicopee, MA. In memory of Kellie Larivee, one of the talented artists of this mural. Kellie passed away January 8, 2000. She was 13 years old. |