Schools in Lexington and across Kentucky are wearing pink on Monday to honor the life of Lucy Nash, 9, who died in Henderson County last week after collapsing on the playground on her first day of school.
“Lucy found a friend in every room. She lived for rainbows, hugs, and tacos. She didn’t give up on anything or anyone. She could always stop to help. She was always looking for the brightest color,” her obituary said after she died Aug. 13.
Dixie Magnet and William Wells Brown Elementary schools in Lexington, and schools all over Kentucky, have asked students and staff to wear pink Monday.
“Nine year old Lucy Nash’s life fell short on her school playground due to a cardiac event last week, while in school at Cairo Elementary, “ Red Bird Christian School at Beverly in southeastern Kentucky posted on Facebook Sunday. “Shortly after that, her parents had to make the difficult decision to donate her organs so that others may live. Tomorrow, we invite our students and their families to join our staff as we show our support to Lucy’s family, friends and the staff at her school in Henderson County, KY as we join with others across the state in wearing pink for Lucy. #PinkiesUpForLucy.”
Lucy collapsed Aug. 7, the district’s first day of school, and her father Ryan Nash posted on Facebook that day, “Please, pray for my baby.”
He explained:
“Lucy went to school for her first day just like her sisters and her best friends. The first half of the day for my 4th grader apparently went pretty well.
At recess, Lucy collapsed on the playground. Her heart had stopped beating. Now we’re at Riley Children’s Hospital (in Indianapolis) Her teachers, the paramedics, doctors and police officers who closed two highways down to get her help faster managed to get her heart going again.”
In another post six days later, Nash posted, in part:
“Saturday night, a sudden change in Lucy’s vitals caused a flurry of activity and tearful encouragement and prayers from her parents, all four of us, surrounding her bed. Since then, Lucy’s signs of being in control of her body have faded away. Her heart beats, medications keep her blood pressure steady to help her body. Her chest rises and falls, as a ventilator chooses every breath. Her eyes, bright blue, friendly and so compassionate, are fixed and unchanging under her sleeping eyelids.
“Sunday morning, the doctor who brought my bright, energetic ‘smart cookie’ to Riley’s and worked all night long to save her from going over the brink explained that the swelling and tissue damage that has been going on moment by moment since recess on Wednesday had reached its end finally. Her brain isn’t alive anymore.
“But that doesn’t make my baby gone yet. Her heart beats, her hands are warm. They removed all the drugs that were sedating her, and checked again. Very early this morning, after many hours of waiting, another doctor could finally agree.
Luciana Laine Nash, sister, lover, catcher, reader, cartwheeler, naturalist, singer, LEGO master builder, child of god, and friend of anyone, passed to the next place where hopefully Christ met her and experienced a hug that truly changes lives.
“Because of the tireless work of the staff at Riley, Deaconess Gateway and Henderson Hospitals, EMTs and teachers we got five days to hold Lucy’s hand, sing her favorite songs, read and finish her bedtime book, and love and care for our wonderful fourth grader.
“We want all of the community who has surrounded her with so much love and prayer to mourn, and thank god for her life with us. Wear your brightest pink. #PinkiesUp4Lucy #PinkiesUpForLucy.”
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