JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — "You will never, ever, ever love me more than I love you." Those were words Aaliyah Mitchell said to her mother, weeks before the girl lost her life to cancer .
The community is now rallying around her family and giving them the help they need.
“I cried but I eventually knew it was the best place for her to go,” said Isabell Bernauer, a supporter.
“I think about her every day. I miss her, and I have to tell myself that she's no longer hurting and that she's in a better place,” said Heather Williams, her mother.
The pain is still fresh for Williams who gave birth to her little girl Sept. 11, 2004.
Strangers organized a car wash and bake sale on Saturday to raise money for Aaliyah’s family who is still struggling with medical bills.
Strangers organized a car wash to raise money for Aaliyah's family. They are still struggling to pay medical bills.
Aaliyah suffered from bone cancer for about 18 months.
She had several tumors in her lungs and her left pelvic, and one on her spine.
“She never got a break, it was always constant treatment,” Williams said.
Jacksonville doctors told her there was no more hope.
“The doctor advised that we take her home, and allow her to spend her days and times she had left,” Williams said.
But during the flight back home, Aaliyah took her last breath. She died on the plane.
"We flew home and on the flight home she passed she didn't make it. We wanted more than anything to get her home with family but apparently god had other plans," said Williams. "Knowing that she was sick, and knowing there's nothing I can do to heal her and having her pass right in my arms -- I just can't even describe it."
“We knew something may happen to her and then the day came and she passed away from us but we now know that she's in a better place,” said Michelle Laffoon, a friend.
Williams said she at least has one great memory of Aaliyah since one of their last conversations together was recorded on her cell phone.
"You will never, ever, ever love me more than I love you," Aaliyah said.
Williams told Action News that Aaliyah is now watching over her family and hopes her death will bring awareness to child cancer.
“A lot of people never get to meet their hero and I gave birth to mine,” Williams said.
The organizers of the carwash and bake sale told Action News more than 1,500 dollars was raised to donate to the family.
The family says treatment for Aaliyah has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
WJAX
