An 8-year-old Pahoa Elementary School student awaiting a heart transplant at Seattle Children’s Hospital has died.
An April 10 entry on the “Heart to Heart for Maddie” Facebook community page said Madisyn “Maddie” Tamaki died April 7.
According to the post, the girl “passed away peacefully in her mothers arms, surrounded by family and the Holy Spirit. She fought long and hard thru this entire journey.”
“We are truly blessed to have had her for 8 years,” the post continued. “She brought so much joy to our lives and touched so many others as well. We will miss you all day every day but find comfort in knowing you are whole and free of illness and we will see you again one day. Fly with angels baby girl. We love you forever.”
Tamaki’s plight received statewide media attention after a YouTube video showed a man stealing a donation jar set up to help defray her medical expenses. The donation jar was located at Irie Hawaii Smoke Shop in Pahoa.
The thief, 57-year-old Jeffrey William Kleinschmidt of Pahoa, was sentenced last week to six months in jail after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. He also was ordered to pay $201 to Irie Hawaii Smoke Shop to reimburse the business for the contents of the donation jar.
Social media posters expressed their sympathy to the girl’s family over her passing.
One wrote: “Deepest condolences to your Ohana. May you take comfort knowing that she now runs and plays with the angels. You now have your own special angel, and she suffers no more. May God grant you peace knowing that she is with our Heavenly Father.”
Wrote another: “Praying that the Lord will comfort your hearts during this difficult time.”
The family still needs money to defray medical expenses they’ve incurred during the girl’s almost four-month illness.
A fundraising site, “Heart to Heart for Maddie” at YouCaring.com, indicates more than $6,100 in donations were collected, with a goal of $10,000. Donations are being accepted at www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/heart-to-heart-for-maddie/299741.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
