Kyra E. Smith

Kyra Elizabeth Smith, age 9, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024 after a 9-month warrior fight against an inoperable brain stem tumor. Born in Dublin, OH on September 15, 2014, Kyra came into this world bonded forever with her twin sister, Brenna. From the moment they were born we knew they were both fighters, but Kyra had a particularly feisty warrior spirit that remained steady throughout her short life. She busted out of the NICU two weeks before Brenna, started walking at 10 months, learned to ride a bike, first try, at age 5 (our Little Zippy), and after many years in gymnastics and dance, realized she had a skill and passion for soccer. Kyra was a free-spirited wildflower. She loved swimming, tubing at the lake, cannonballing off our boat with big sister, Audra, rollerblading and scootering up and down our street, singing at the top of her lungs and dancing in the kitchen (like her mom). At the age of 6, she declared that when she grew up she wanted to be “a boss.” We all had no doubt that she would be. Early on Kyra gravitated to blocks and puzzles (like her dad). While she would happily play Barbies, magic clip dolls, and princess dress up with her sisters, she always ended up at her LEGO table. She also loved coloring, reading spooky books and Archie comics, drawing, and making up/telling jokes. She was mischievous at times (we had to hide the scissors), but was a rule follower when it mattered and a good student who cared about school. Adventurous could be Kyra’s middle name. She tried anything, from food to crazy roller coasters. She was obsessed with untypical kid food like avocados, tomatoes and cucumbers. She also loved mommy’s popcorn, Jimmy John’s zippy chips, and rare steak. Kyra wasn’t afraid of much, though she despised mosquitos. These past 9-months Kyra showed us her strength and maturity every single day. She took on each day with positivity, and insisted on going to school as much as she could (which was a lot). She amazed us and so many others with her ability to do things that many adults couldn’t do. From her radiation face mask, to multiple long MRIs without sedation and everything in between, Kyra just matter-of-factly did things. She hated IVs, but always took those pokes like a champ (thanks to buzzy bee, the popper and YouTube baking videos). Kyra loved nothing more than playing with her sisters and friends. She was loyal, protective and fun-loving. You could always count on Kyra to have your back or if you needed a good laugh or a big hug. She loved cuddling with her family, especially her sisters and Otto. She had a sparkle in her eye, the cutest freckles, and the best jokes and comebacks. She was our little rockstar, and her memory will live on in all of us. Kyra is survived by her parents, Jason and Cindy, her twin sister, Brenna, her big sister, Audra, and her puppy, Otto Rocket; her grandparents – Joe and Judy Costa and Don and Liz Smith; her aunts and uncles – Lisa and Paul McLafferty, Adele and Phil Green, and Mike and Kendra Smith; her cousins – Amelia Green, Megan and P.J. McLafferty, and Angela, Liam, Faith and Conor Smith; along with many other family members and so many special friends. She is preceded in death by her Great Grandma, Marta Czerniejewski, Great Uncle Chris Czerniejewski, Great Aunt Jill Costa, Great Aunt Diane Zientek, and her first dogs, Bernie and Lady. We would like to express our gratitude to Kyra’s medical team at Lurie Children’s Hospital - Dr. Lenzen, Dr. Shawn, Ellory, Marlee and so many others, along with her home hospice team, Sheila, Lily, and Allison. The love, care and confidence they had in Kyra and the support they gave our family is so appreciated. And finally, we’d like to thank our amazing friends and community – the kindness and displays of support in so many forms touched our hearts and gave us the lift we needed every day. We are so grateful that Kyra’s smile, spirit and bravery touched so many people, both before and during her illness. A Celebration of Life for friends, family and the community (all are welcome) will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at The Birchstone, 200 Barclay Blvd., Lincolnshire, IL 60069. A private family funeral is planned for August 17, 2024. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Kyra’s honor to Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation: www.cbtf.org; Special Spaces Illinois: www.specialspaces.org/our-chapters/illinois/; or Make-a-Wish Illinois: www.wish.org/illinois. Kyra’s Crew Forever.

Kyra E. Smith

September 15, 2014 - August 4, 2024