kayla

A beautiful angel sent from above
A sweet little girl with a heart full of love
Helplessly in the hospital bed she lays
The Beautiful angels came and took her away
All her friends cry
Why did she have to die
We all know she's in a better place
but we all still miss her smiling face..

What do I think about the world around me... The world is really violent and is getting worse every where.

How I plan on changing the world... If I had a trillion dollars I would give 75% of it to the poor. I hate how they can't afford food.

The greatest things about my generation.. That our country is free and they are making our life a lot easier with electronics and everything.

If I could have any super power, it would be... To have wings and to fly away as high as birds.

My favorite places I've been on vacation... Morocco; I loved it there, it was awesome; The Kemmou's took me; I had a lot of fun for two months.

For future trips, places I would like to go... I would like to go to Paris. It seems cool and Jamaica, or the Bahamas. (I love islands.)

My best travel tale... While in St. Thomas, we were driving, my brother puked, my pop got money and, by mistake, put the money into the puke bag.

I dream of... Traveling around the world, curing the world of disease, live in a shack on an island, and help the poor and feed them.

New Martinsville, W.Va. — Kayla Dian McElaney, 13, of New Martinsville, died Tuesday, April 20, 2004 in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh as the result of an ATV accident.

Kayla was born on Oct. 2, 1990 in Davenport, Iowa, to Dr. Charles. McElaney III and Pamela Anderson McElaney of Martinsville.

She was a seventh-grade student at the New Martinsville School and was a past student at the Mount De Chantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, W.Va.

Surviving in addition to her parents are a brother, Charles A. “Chuckie” McElaney IV of New Martinsville; her maternal grandparents, Dr. Sherwood and Dian Anderson of Niantic; paternal grandparents, Charles A. McElaney Jr., and Carol McElaney of Niantic; an uncle, Mark Anderson of Montville and Waterford; an aunt, Deborah Rolfe of Niantic; and cousins, Lance Anderson of Waterford, Brittany and Ryan Morotti and Jason Foor, all of Niantic.

A Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2004 at the New Martinsville United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kayla Dian McElaney Memorial Fund, c/o The New Martinsville United Methodist Church, memo Kayla, 400 North Main Street, New Martinsville, WV 26155.

Arrangements are by the Jarvis Funeral Home, 1224 S. Bridge St., New Martinsville.

New Martinsville Teen Dies From Head Injuries

NEW MARTINSVILLE - A 13-year-old New Martinsville girl died Tuesday at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh from injuries she sustained in an all-terrain vehicle accident April 9th.

Kayla Dian McElaney, daughter of Dr. Charles A. McElaney III and Pamela R. McElaney, was a seventh-grader at New Martinsville School. She was riding a four-wheeler with another teenager when the accident occurred in Beechwood Estates, west of New Martinsville.

Charles and I would like to thank you for your donation to Kayla's memorial fund. Your gift was very thoughtful. Kayla had a deep love for animals so we are donating the funds to the Wetzel county animal shelter. We can not believe our beautiful daughter has been taken from us. Everyday has been a nightmare. We long for her smile and her beautiful laugh. She brought so much joy to our lives.. What a waste of a great kid. Kayla was a loving, caring, forgiving compassionate child. We were so blessed to have her. Thank you so much again. Kayla would be so happy to know she has helped the animals with your support. Everyone has been so kind.

November 28, 2004

Althought I wasn't very good friends with Kayla, I still miss her so much! She was such a sweet girl, and it was really a joy having her around. To her parents and Chucky- I want to wish you all the luck in the world, and I am so sorry about everything! I hope all goes well! We all miss you Kayla and we love you so much!

Love,

Maggie Blatt

From: Patty Jones
Date: 09/28/04 09:02:02
To: Pamela
Subject: Thank you

Pam, I just want to say thank you to you Chuck and Chucky. You are such awesome people. I think to myself about how much you are hurting, heart full of darkness and pain and yet you reach out to help Courtney. Thank you also for letting Courtney in Kayla's room, I asked her last night if that bothered her at all being in her room and she said " no mommy, I love it there". So odd that she can hardly visit the bench but yet she can sit in her room. You know as the girls grow up their friends come and go but Kayla, we knew from the time they met her that she was a keeper. I fell in love with her right away, there was not a day that went without mentioning Kayla's name in our house. Courtney would tell me all the time how much she loved her laugh. Everytime we has Candy we would talk about her being in the candy. She taught us mall etique, and everytime we went to the mall we would laugh, as we had to carry one bag in each hand. Courtney always knew she could call Kayla if one of her animals died to find comfort, just as Kayla would always call Court. I can remember once Courtney had a critter die and she was crying to Kayla on the phone and Court told me later that Kayla cried with her and said that if she could be here she would hold Courtney and hug her. Last night one of Courts critters died and I know she was heart broken that she had no one to call, she says no one really comforts her like Kayla did. I would see Kayla almost everyday at school untill she changed busses and everyday I told her how beautiful she was, I am thankful that I did that, because she was and she knew it, she would always tilt that head with a big smile and say thank you Mrs. Jones. I could not get her to call me Patty, she said no, that would be out of respect for you Mrs. Jones. Sometimes I could get her to call me Courtney's mom. But that was it. Larry told me that the night he spent with Kayla in the hospital he could see why we all fell so deeply in love with her. He said he just got that sense of what an awesome kid she was that night. She touched so many lives for such a young child. God, we miss her, but like Courtney I find comfort in visiting you. Hell I want to move in, haha just kidding. You should be very proud of how well you raised her. I thank god everyday for the fact that she changed schools, because without that I would not have got to spend the time with her that I did, and believe me sometimes Court would say Mom she is here to play with me not you. I would not trade that time for anything. Well we love you and again I just want to say Thank you for being the great person that you are and helping us all while you are needing help.

flying so high up in the sky
why did my friend have to die
she had the world right at her feet
she was just the girl you had to meet
so helpless and innocent in the hospital she lay
why did it have to happen this way
we didn't realize that day was her last
the memories we shared came flooding back
Kayla, so helpless lost the fight
she tried so hard with all her might
she is truly and angel in our eyes
at least now her dream has come true
* now she can fly *

From: jill spencer
Date: 07/29/04 02:05:03
To: Pamela

Hi...checked out Kayla's web site tonight. One of those nights when I am just too tired to sleep if
you can believe that. The new photos you added of are wonderful. Thank goodness you have all of
those. But with or without them, she will never be forgotten by any of us who had the pleasure to
be on her friend's list. She liked us if we were old, young, rich, poor, tall, short, male or
female. She was able to do something that most people can't do. She made you smile on the inside as
well as the outside!
A Kayla hug was priceless and came from the heart. I will always remember that bicycle coming
down my driveway at warp speed every time a new box of surprise marbles came in the mail from some
far off place and her joy spreading them out on the floor and writing down what each one was, who
had sent it and her amazement that came from strangers from so far away.
So although we may not see here everyday, as we would like, no one can take away our special
moments with her. She made us better and maybe that was her reason for being. I know I am better
for having her to brighten some dark days for me and she did that more often then anyone knows.
I will never forget my Dad making special trips to the store to get the weirdest ice cream
flavors just to have them in the freezer for her and Chuckie's visits. I never thought I would see
the day when Dad would come home with Boo-Berry Choco-nut ice cream but he had a bowl with Kayla
when she came and both laughed at their blue lips after that treat! Since he was strictly a white
house cherry ice cream kind of guy, to see him straying into the bubble gum ice cream aisle just to
have a special treat for them told us all she had touched him too. So they can steal our girl and
we can hurt terribly from the loss but they can not steal our memories of her and the eternal place
reserved in our hearts for her. So we are forced to cope with our loss but find peace in the fact
that no one can take away our precious memories..........Jill

Hello,
My name is Molly Starkey. I just wanted to thank
you all so much for this cause when I'm feeling sad and
missing I look at this page and think about all the
wonderful memories we had and pretty soon I am happy
again. Kayla was one of my best friends.
I have known her since first grade. She was always such a
nice and sweet girl. I have so many great memories with
her I can't count all the times we stayed up till like 3
in the morning just talking. She was the best secret
keeper ever. I don't think she told any of my secrets. If
you were not her friend you missed out big time. When you
were around her there was never nothing to do she was
full of fun ideas well anyway she was great and I know we
all miss her a lot so when you feeling sad just look at
the page or think of all the memories you did have with
her and it will make you happy.

Love Always,

Molly Starkey

P.S. I love you Mrs. Mac and I miss you alot

Hello... my name is Callie from Kentucky I am 14 years old.. some how I stumbled upon this website, still not knowing how I got here and before closing out on it... I began to read... I am so sorry on your great loss. Kayla seemed from here pictures like a beautiful talented, and sweet girl... I found it very strange after reading this site, around the same time of Kayla's death... I lost a friend very near to me named Nathan Retting, the same way... he was 12 years old though he lived in western Kentucky... Kayla seemed like a very sweet girl... something about the way she smiles reminds me of my best friend from here...

I know we're supposed to trust God in what he does but, sometimes, you want to ask him one thing: why.

Why did you bring so much sorrow to this town. These past few months have been very hard, but we made it through.

Kayla-no matter how many months or years go by we will never forget you and will wait forever at the gates of heaven for you.

Hi my name is Rachel Ice
I live out in Pine Grove Connecticut.
I heard about Kayla's death and I'm sorry.
I have been on her web site many times because of my best friend Mckenzie Bucher.
She took jazz with Kayla.
I know what it's like to lose a loved one so I know what your going through I'm sorry...

Love Rachel Ice

Kayla gurl we all miss u so much.I know we have to trust in God but sometimes you want ask Him one thing:; Why? This is one of those times.

Kayla, be are guiding light, always protect us , and wait for us at the gates of heaven.

This is Breanne's Nanny and I would like to thank you for creating the web page in Kayla's honor and memory.

it's still so hard to believe and when we get low we open the web site and there is her smiling face.

she likes to correspond with Pam and I think it makes her feel as connected as Pam says it does her.

Kayla was one of my best friends. Thank you so much for all the pictures you have put on this web page I look at it almost everyday to see if you put anymore on it. Kayla always made me laugh and anyone else that knew her. She was liked from so many people and I'm sure that you knew that already but I just wanted to tell you. I was so blessed to get to know Kayla for as long as I did, anyone is blessed if they knew Kayla. So thanks again for the web page.

I am a friend of Vicki's and she told a group of her friends about this tragic loss. i just wanted
you to know that my heart is with you. i can't imagine what this must feel like for you, but i
hope that somehow, some healing will come to you.
Kayla was beautiful and obviously enjoyed life. this site is so beautiful - a wonderful tribute to
a special young lady, it had me in tears. please know that many people you don't even know are
holding your family in their thoughts and prayers because of vicki's love and compassion for you.

God bless.

Kayla was one of my best friends, she always made me smile when I was feeling down, and Kayla always had a smile on her face, like she was perfect!
Kayla was an Angle just down here on earth without wings or a halo, now Kayla is in a better place and she got them both.
Kayla will always be my best friend, I will always think of her, I will miss her to death, and I will pray for her family. I made a couple of different poems up for her.

Kayla, we really do want you back!
You never have let us down!
Kayla please don't leave us yet, I can't stand to see another frown!
Can't wait to see your smiling face, someday in heaven you'll see.
I know you probably met God Already. Just please promise you won't forget me!

And here is another!

Me as her friend knew her as a sweet girl, and one of my best friends.
We all have an unconditional love for.
In our eyes she could do no wrong. She had the same great love for us all.
She touched our hearts in such a way that there will always be a huge void in our lives that can
Never be filled.
You truly were the best friend in the world.
You left us much too soon.
We willalways love you and miss you.
God be with you until we meet again.

Good bye for now Kayla

Thanks for making this web site we all love it!! We all can go back and hear her vocie in the
videos and also we can see her smiling face!

Thank you SO much,
Tincy Haught

Kayla was one of my best friends. She always made me smile.
She could make me laugh no matter what. Kayla always had a
way to make your life happy. I was so blessed to get to meet
someone special like her. I think of Kayla everyday. I miss
her so much. She always had a smile on her face and was
laughing. I think it was so nice to make this website.
Everyone enjoys looking at her. She was so beautiful. I am
so glad that I knew her as long as I did. I will never forget
her. My prayers go out to her family.

Love,

Chelsea Steele

I Love You Kayla!

Hey! My names is Kayla Fisher. I just wanted to thank you SO
much for making Kayla's website. Now when I feel down I can
always go there and look at her beautiful smile and just think
of how she is in a better place. I made a poem up just for her:

Sometimes in the day I
wonder if I am going to
be ok, maybe someday
we can fly so high up into
the sky we could be together
always and forever and never
forget the times that we had
and spent together...
I will never ever forget her!!

Hi, this is Laura. I just saw this website dedicated to Kayla.
It truly is a precious thing to those left behind. Those poems by her friends, the notes from friends and family, and of course, the pictures; I appreciate those so much. I used to baby-sit her and her brother when hey were a little younger. This is a wonderful thing to do for Kayla; it gives everyone a chance to see the beautiful young girl that she had grown up to be. I saw her as a little girl playing Barbie?s all day long, quitting long enough to swim or eat. :-) I missed out on her turning into this wonderful young woman that shows in these pictures. I wish all the best to the family on dealing with this tragedy, and I extend my gratitude for this site. Love to the
McElaney's, Pam - you know you're in my heart. - - - Laura P.

Had just visited with Pam today and she gave me Kayla's web addy. I sit here in the dark of my living room and the glow of the computer screen, watching Kayla's smile flash by. Such a beautiful smile. Such a beautiful girl. Such a beautiful Angel.

To the McElaney Family. Please know that my thoughts are with you. I won't even try to imagine I could possibly know how you feel. Just please know that, Kayla lives and loves on in the hearts and minds of the many she touched. She was an extraordinary girl who came from an extraordinary family. One filled with love, spirit and light. May these blessings now be the balm for your healing time together.

Hi,
My name is Kelsey. I am one of Kayla's friends.
Kayla always had a smile on her face. I remember hearing her laugh two tables down from me at lunch. I will never forget her laugh.       Kayla   could always make your day better no matter how bad it was. Every time I saw her face or heard her laugh, everything bad just seemed to fade away.          I guess God just needed a special angel to do a special job, and he got the very best one.
Love,
Kelsey

P.S. I dedicated my favorite poem to Kayla. It is called My Special Angel.

My Special Angel
When times are troubled
And I'm in need of Love
I turn my thoughts to God above.
I pray for a special angel to appear
To help me through these times of fear.
An Angel of friendship, courage, and devotion
To give me strength to conquer my emotion.
This prayer has always helped me through
Because my Special Angel is you.

Kayla you will always be in my heart, and you will always be my friend. I love you   Kayla!!!

Thank you for making this web site . She was so pretty I think she was just an angel waiting for wings . She had a good life ,she had all the friends she wanted , a nice brother that loved her so much ! And so every time I see her smiling face I can remember her from this web site.

Kayla could always bring a smile to my face, even if i was really upset.
Sometimes when i think about her i start feeling sad so i go and look at her smile and listen to her
voice.

My family has so many memories with Kayla. Thank You Pam and Chuck for letting us get to know your little
Angel!

LYLAS Kayla

'' Death leaves a heart ache no one can heal,
Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Pam this is for you and your angel

I know the heart ache.

Love Karen

Thoughts from Seth

Thanks for the notes on the page..
It makes me and everyone who looks at it sad.. I hope I'm doing the right thing.
Pam's mom sends me the pictures that are out there.
If your young, old, or related it is a little different, but pain is pain..
I really don't know what to say....... But guess prayers and thoughts are about the same
thing, so Kayla will know she is loved on her journey. We should live life to the fullest. Do things
for people, concentrate on the good in life, So that we too will be remembered with good thoughts.

Uncle Seth

And I am one of Kayla's friends. I just saw the web site and I would like to thank you for making it because it helped me to remember her beautiful smile, and all the wonderful times I had with her.
She really was an angel by heart. I'm sorry for the pain and hurt the family has gone through. I wish there was something I could do, but I guess time has to run it's course.
With a best friend's
love, Marah

P.S. This is a poem I wrote for my girlie. I wrote it because Kayla thought I was mad at her, and I never got the chance to tell her I wasn't and I'll always love her.

Did your dream come true?
Can you fly just like you wanted to?
I hope you're happy where you are,
But in our hearts you're not that far.
Someday I know we'll meet again...
I'll see you waiting way up there
and we'll fly and fly without a care.
We'll dance around like we used to do
And I'll finally get the chance to say I'm sorry,-
I've always loved you.

What is once loved, you will find, will be yours from that day.
Take it home in your mind and nothing ever can take it away.

While Kayla has been taken away from us here on earth our memories, pictures
and videos will keep her alive and remembered.
The smile of Kayla will always be remembered as this cherished little
girl waits to be reunited with those she loves and those who love her.

What a beautiful tribute to Kayla. I
did not know her. Because of Debbie Holmes we
had prayed for her. I guess God needed this
beautiful angel for when we are all get there and
are with Him rejoicing in our eternal life.

God Bless - Fanny Daniels, Waterford, CT

Hi,

My name is Josh. I am a friend of Kayla's. I just saw the website you made. Thank you for making it. The pictures are sad to see for everyone I am sure, but everyone can remember that she was always smiling in every picture taken of her.
She has a great smile. Thanks again for making the website.

Uncle Seth thank you so so much for the beautiful web site you made for Kayla. We love it I will send more pics. I love you.

Thanks. Seeing those beautiful, happy pictures of Kayla reminds me of how grateful I am that I had an opportunity to know Kayla and how special the Bendfeldt family reunion is to give everyone in the family a chance to know each other if only once a year. I also wanted to share what I heard Tim Russert discuss in an interview regarding his new book in which there is a chapter on loss that I found strangely comforting. And what he said, and I'm sure I won't be as articulate as he was, was that particularly in the loss of a child, given the choice of never knowing that child or knowing that child for just a brief time and faced with the pain of losing them too soon what would you choose?
Take Care, Love,