Going through the loss of a family member is never easy, but experiencing multiple losses simultaneously is even more gut-wrenching. This Florida mom not only had to bid farewell to her beloved daughter but also faced the impending loss of another person close to her heart.

Allyson Parker, a Florida mom, endured the most heartbreaking events: losing her daughter Braylynn and father Sean at the same time. Just days before Braylynn’s fifth birthday, the family received devastating news: she had brain cancer and did not have much time left. Doctors were unable to operate on her diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) tumor and informed the family that chemotherapy was not a viable option either.

The only option was radiation to slow the tumor’s growth. A month later, Braylynn’s condition took a turn for the worse, leading to a moment that would haunt many. After celebrating Christmas with Braylynn, she was brought back to the hospital in early January due to congestion. Doctors suspected a bleed in her tumor, and as her condition rapidly declined, they delivered heartbreaking news to the family.

Allyson recalled the terrible moment, “Went downstairs to Starbucks…came back…doctor told us my little baby is basically braindead. She was responsive just a few hours ago…I don’t understand.”

The doctor who initially gave the family a 24-48 hour timeline returned and revised the prognosis. “She has realized that Braylynn is NOT like most kids. We no longer have the 48-hour maximum timeline, or even one at all really. She is still winning, she can still beat this.”

Allyson took a heartbreaking picture that went viral. The image showed Braylynn attached to tubes on a hospital bed while her grandfather Sean, diagnosed with ALS, sat next to her with a look of pain on his face. While doctors did not expect Sean to outlive his granddaughter, he remained by her side in what everyone thought were her last moments.

“These two are the strongest people I have ever known. Everyone related to us would agree. We all thought that they would outlive the rest of us… and we certainly never thought that my precious little Braylynn would be the first to go,” Allyson wrote on Facebook. “Why her…Murderers deserve death sentences, NOT babies.”

“In a few days I will have to bury this beautiful little girl. Months, maybe even weeks, later, I will have to bury my father,” Allyson shared. “Both of my heroes, gone, within the same year…How could this happen to us? What did any of us do to deserve THIS? Why do they have to leave us? What are we supposed to do? I refuse to believe that there is a reason for this. This world is a terrible place.”

“The nurse who told us earlier that Braylynn’s heart would stop in an hour or two was WRONG. It has been SIX HOURS since then. That nurse was not supposed to give a timeline at all, and her pulse was never faint,” Allyson added in an update.

“She was mad because the administration is letting us keep her on the ventilator for as long as we want, so that everyone who is coming here can get here. We will let her go tomorrow after everyone has had the chance to see her one more time.”

As Braylynn’s heart continued to beat strongly, the family decided not to remove her from the ventilator. “We are leaving her on the ventilator until all of the funeral arrangements are made. It may take a few days because everything is going to be PERFECT for her big day,” Allyson wrote. “Until then, she is still with us, still fighting, still strong.”

Allyson made a heartfelt request to other parents in another post. “Everyone please kiss your babies for me tonight and hold them tight…Please don’t take them for granted….Cherish every second you have with them, you may not have as many as you think…”

“I PROMISE YOU, you do not want to feel this feeling, and if you know this feeling… please, tell me how you deal with this, because I am absolutely clueless…”

Despite the doctors’ grim prognosis, the family held out hope for a miracle. “Not only is Braylynn inspiring people all over the WORLD…earlier today, I spoke with some of the social workers for hospice…They are not willing to give up on her,” Allyson wrote.

“Tomorrow, we are having a family meeting which will include the social workers and a doctor whom I have not met. This doctor… is wanting to get Braylynn treatment. He believes she still has a chance. FINALLY, A DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO HELP US!”

“The possibility of her death is still very likely, but once again, we have been shown a glimmer of hope,” she continued. “I couldn’t be more proud of my Braylynn, she’s always been a tough kid but I severely underestimated her strength. I will never make that mistake again.”

Braylynn fought till the very end, but to the devastation of her family, she passed away on January 15, 2018. Her grandfather Sean passed away from ALS later that same year. Allyson now advocates for cancer awareness, honoring the memory of her brave daughter and father.