Click the image above to return to the Hannah main page. Hannah Grace Keeton Written by Paige Friedman Lovingly delivered by Erin Friedman      Once upon a time in the kingdom of Cardinal Glennon, a princess named Hannah Keeton graced the halls. My first encounter with her majesty was in the playroom chamber. I was simply a volunteer, going about my chore for the day- painting faces. As the kids requested rainbows, hearts, and stars on their cheeks, I first noticed Princess Hannah standing in my line. Although all the kids in the playroom are adorable and special in their own ways, Hannah immediately distinguished herself by asking me to put portraits on her knees, instead of her cheeks, which was a request unique to such a princess. I immediately knew that I was meeting an extraordinary child.      In no time at all, Hannah and I had became friends and she began to reveal to me her greatest secret. Hannah was in fact a princess who was sent to earth from God to teach all of us about love, life, and pure joy. Her cancer was simply a tool that was allowing her to reach out and touch more people. As she bestowed her ultimate knowledge and love upon me, I became infected with the Hannah smile. It was incredibly contagious and my family quickly became a victim of the ear-to-ear grin that truly reflected happiness and contentment that is rarely revealed in a common smile. We became hooked. We had to know more about how this happiness could be experienced every day and we looked to the princess for guidance. She welcomed us to her chambers at the hospital or in her home and we simply enjoyed the privilege of being in her presence. While in the company of princess Hannah, you could not resist enveloping yourself in the magical world she created where a seven year old was princess and everything was honest and pure.      Princess Hannah ruled her kingdom with a strict but ever so gentle hand. Laughter, love, smiles, and joy were given freely and farting noises from her handmade pooze sounded daily. The laws were simple- do not be mean to anyone in the room, do not come before the princess without a smile, and most importantly, ALWAYS follow the princess procession rules by staying behind Princess Hannah. The punishment for breaking rules in Hannah’s kingdom was a perfect reflection of Hannah’s fun loving personality. The number of squirts from one of her many squirt guns always matched the severity of your crime. Although her horse drawn carriage often looked like a wheelchair and her noble steed resembled a puffer fish named Puff Daddy, Hannah’s visitors were never deceived by appearances. Rather, visitors to her kingdom left a little wet, but always inspired to share the joy and love that Hannah gave out so freely. It always felt as though little Hannah had sprinkled some of her magic fairy dust on your heart and gave you the ability that she had to change the normal, everyday things, into something beautiful and fit for a fairy tale. In this way, Hannah began to send us out like her messengers. From her high room in one of her castles, Hannah steered us through our towns, churches, and even across the country to complete her mission. It was simple- spread love, laughter, joy, and hope.      It began with me, and then spread to my family. From there, the miracle of Hannah spread to relatives and friends who even went so far as to shave their heads in her honor. Even today, the light that Hannah awakened in each of us continues to shine and we will further her mission by sharing with others the story of this precious angel who walked among us. Hannah has touched all of us. She has inspired me to become a nurse and to specialize in pediatric oncology. By doing this, I hope to spread the joy and compassion that she taught me. My sister is developing the Princess Hannah project that will allow sick children in the hospital to share the happiness found in Hannah’s kingdom. Perhaps you have decided to smile more, worry less, and live life to its fullest. It is now up to us to remember the way that Hannah lit this world and our lives. Even though she now lives in a kingdom more beautiful than we can imagine, we can never forget the simple joy she spread. I know that in the future when my own children ask me if I believe in fairy tales, I will slowly shine my Hannah smile and share with them the once upon a time tale of when I was friends with an angel named Hannah.