DUNCANSVILLE - The Sweeney family of Duncansville was hoping for an Easter miracle to heal their little girl, but the miracle may have taken a different form.
Regina Sweeney, 11, passed away Wednesday afternoon in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh surrounded by her parents, Kathy and Dr. Gregory Sweeney; her seven siblings; friends; and their priest, Monsignor Anthony Little, who prayed together at her bedside.
"It was a nice and prayerful gathering," Little said. "We prayed the rosary together. She didn't need any prayers to get to heaven."
Kathy Sweeney described her youngest child as a spunky, fun-loving tomboy. She said Regina put up a fight during the month-long struggle for her life, which began as a fever and developed into a staph infection of the lungs.
Regina's parents decided to have her taken off life support at 3 p.m., "the hour of mercy" in the Catholic faith.
"There was a significance to the time. There was lots of bleeding in her lungs. They couldn't stop the infection. They were beginning to think it was a new strain of staph that doesn't respond to anything. They were using more and more medication. There wasn't any choice. We just had to pick a time," Kathy said.
"The outcome isn't what we had hoped for, but we do trust there is a reason for it," she said.
A friend who prayed by the bedside, Beth Britz of Hollidaysburg, said, "I was witness to the most beautiful act of love anyone could ever imagine - a mother, father, five brothers and two sisters saying goodbye to their beautiful little sister and daughter and sending her into God's loving arms."
Another family friend at Regina's bedside was Elsie Shivas, whose 11-year-old daughter, Helena, was Regina's best friend.
"Regina's friendship and presence will be sorely missed, but Helena consoles herself with the knowledge that she has an eternal friend in heaven. As we finished our bedtime prayers last night, Helena spontaneously concluded, 'Regina, pray for us,'" Shivas said.
Faith has been a resounding theme through Regina's struggle.
During the four weeks she was hospitalized, thousands of people prayed for her. Nightly vigils were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Newry, benefit dinners were organized and a Facebook page created in her honor had more than 3,000 members.
"Everyone was certainly asking for a miracle. The primary one was for Regina's healing. The miracle that really was manifested was the connection between people," Little said.
One person on Thursday posted on the "Pray for Regina" page: "It's amazing to me that people are still posting and reaching out days after. ... This site needs to stay open."
Little said he saw an e-mail on Thursday from someone from Thailand who was praying for Regina.
"I was very surprised that her journey has been so uplifting for so many people," Kathy said. "The way we look at it is she is in the glory of God right now and is happy and peaceful."
The significance of her passing away during Holy Week was not lost on Little, who said the family is filled with faith, even during this difficult time.
"There must be a significance, going this whole month with her suffering. We think of Lent as the Passion. The Monsignor, he said she's already had her Easter. She's risen. There has to be a connection. I don't know God's plan, but my faith isn't shaken at all," Kathy said.
Little said he expects the funeral Mass for Regina to be packed.
A viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Sorge Funeral Home in Hollidaysburg, and a funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's.
"As parents, our goal is to get our children to heaven and we already have one there," Kathy said. "Don't canonize her as a saint. She was a loving, happy girl with five older brothers and two older sisters. She could get in the mix with all of them. She was fun. She enjoyed life. She loved music. She had a deep faith, too, and I'm grateful for that, because she will be received into heaven."