After multiple major surgeries, including a 10-hour open-heart operation, little girl died one day after her eighth birthday

For five weeks, Leanne Gorin fought for her life.

The bright, funny eight-year-old Aurora girl loved painting, fashion, animals and playing outside. She adored her siblings, especially her nine-year-old brother Adam, her best friend.

What appeared to be an ordinary childhood illness quickly became a medical emergency. Within 48 hours, Leanne developed fulminant myocarditis, a rare and severe inflammation of the heart muscle triggered by influenza B.

After multiple major surgeries, including a 10-hour open-heart operation, Leanne died July 23 — one day after her eighth birthday — surrounded by her family.

Now, her parents, Roman and Ilona, are trying to navigate life without their daughter while caring for their four other children, aged 14, 9, 3 and 2.

“Our hearts are shattered,” Ilona said. “Mentally it’s been extremely hard, right now our life is on hold.”

The family has lived in Aurora for almost 12 years, after previously spending about three years in Alberta. During Leanne’s five-week hospitalization at SickKids Hospital, her parents rarely left her bedside.

Roman, the family’s sole provider and a self-employed subcontractor, was unable to work while caring for Leanne. With his income stopped, the family is now facing bills, funeral costs and the cost of counselling and other support as they grieve.

A GoFundMe fundraiser, organized by Leanne’s uncle Boris Sheinberg, is seeking $100,000 to help the family through the loss and financial strain.

As of Aug. 11, more than $83,700 had been raised.

But for Ilona, the fundraiser is about more than money.

“I really want people to know our story because what happened to her was extremely rare,” she said. “I had a perfectly healthy daughter.”

Ilona said the family has been told Leanne’s condition was extraordinarily uncommon. She hopes sharing her story will remind people not to dismiss influenza as something that is always routine.

Leanne had shown few warning signs before her condition deteriorated.

“She had nothing, no symptoms, nothing except a 40C (104F) fever,” Ilona said.

The family has also leaned heavily on Aurora neighbours and relatives. Some neighbours have brought food and offered help, while Ilona’s parents have helped care for the younger children.

“Every little bit counts,” she said.

For now, however, Ilona said she is still struggling to function. Weeks after Leanne’s death, she has not yet been able to bring her younger children fully back into the family home as she tries to cope with the loss.

“I hope with time and with the therapy and everything included, that we will be able to stand on our feet and kind of be a family together again,” she said. “But right now it’s just extremely difficult.”

Behind the grief is the memory of a little girl whose kindness extended well beyond her family.

Ilona recalled giving Leanne money to take to a school fair. Instead of spending it herself, Leanne gave all of it to another girl who did not have any money.

“That’s how kind this girl was,” Ilona said. “Because of how rare of what it was, and how pure of a soul she was, everybody just needs to know that.”

The family says Leanne’s legacy is one of generosity, love and compassion — qualities they hope will live on through those who knew her.

They are asking the community to support the fundraiser if able, or simply share Leanne’s story and keep the family in their thoughts.

If donations exceed the family’s needs, organizers say the remaining funds will be donated to SickKids in gratitude for the care Leanne received and to help other families facing medical crises.

As the family grieves, Ilona wants people to remember not only how Leanne died, but how she lived — as a joyful, generous child whose life, though heartbreakingly short, left a lasting mark.

The fundraiser is available through GoFundMe.