Keyleygh’s Cause: Turning Grief into Something Beautiful

 Keyleygh’s Cause: Turning Grief into Something Beautiful

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”

- Kenji Miyazawa

            Grief can be a terrible and debilitating monster if we allow it to consume us. But, what if we could take that all the grief we feel and turn it into something beautiful? Something with a purpose? That is exactly what one local woman has done. Danielle Stewart, a local to Ashland has experienced the type of grief no mother should ever have to face… the loss of a child.

           Danielle faced every parent’s worst nightmare, and her world was turned upside down. “Dec. the 17^th, 2009 is a day I will never forget… a day that changed my life forever. I never imagined I would be burying one of my children before myself, but God had other plans. On this bittersweet day, He called my daughter (Keyleygh) home to be with Him,” Stewart shared.

            “As I was overcome by grief and pain from losing my daughter, I realized I wanted to take my grief and turn it into something beautiful--something to honor her memory, something as beautiful as my sweet Keyleygh Dawn. Sitting on my bed, holding her pink teddy bear, wanting nothing more than to hold her just one last time… that was when it hit me! Stuffed animals for children in the hospital.” Danielle has made it her mission to honor her daughter and turn her grief into something that she could share with the world in a positive way. “Since Dec.  2010, I have taken donations of stuffed animals and toys to the pediatric unit at the local hospital. The first few years, I couldn’t make it passed the nurses’ desks. I just couldn’t seem to bring myself to go room to room and take in all the noises and sounds along with sights.” Stewart explained that it was just so overwhelming at first, and it just took her back to a place that she wasn’t mentally nor emotionally prepared for just yet.

            But as time passed and the years went by, Stewart found that she was finally able to make her way passed the nurses’ desks. “I first started taking stuffed animals to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Ky where I am originally from. This is the hospital where my daughter took her last breath. After we relocated to Ashland, I began taking them to Cabell Huntington Hospital. I used to go by myself, but for the past two years my husband and children have gone with me. My children love doing this. Their faces light up just as much as the kiddos receiving the gifts.”

Stewart recalled one of her fondest memories of Keyleygh’s Cause, “Last year was my favorite year. We got to go room to room, and the children picked what they wanted while interacting with myself and my children. Seeing the smiles on their faces and their eyes light up made my daughter’s last breath even more treasurable. Something that still stays in my heart is a mother that reached out to me after we had visited Cabell last year. She told me her daughter was in the hospital waiting for a heart transplant. She received a bear from us. She kept it through her surgery and still has it. She said it meant so much to her and her daughter in such a hard time. This is why I created Keyleygh’s Cause: to make a difference in children’s lives when they are sick.”

            Without the many generous donations, Keyleygh’s Cause would not have been possible. “I am very thankful for the Hillcrest Bruce Mission and Mike Maynard for his donations of stuffed animals every year! I also post on the Ashland People Helping People site. I have gotten several donations this way as well. I also buy donations out of pocket.” Stewart shared.

            This year, on Dec. 17 2023, the Stewart family plan to have a very special guest visitor with them. “Rylan Ashton, a very special 13-year-old girl, is dressing up as the Grinch! She is going to bring some extra joy to the kiddos at Cabell out of the kindness of her heart! My kiddos are dressing as elves and presents. This year, it is going to be amazing to see the look on their littles faces and their eyes light up!” noted Stewart.

            If you would like to help support Keyleygh’s Cause, you can do so by texting Danielle Stewart at 606.232.2513 or sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Stewart stated, “I am so thankful to everyone that has donated over the years. If anyone would like to donate, I start taking donations Sept. 1 – Dec. 10. I accept stuffed animals, toys, coloring books and crayons. I would like to encourage any parent that has experienced the loss of a child to take their grief, and turn it into something beautiful in their child’s memory. There are so many of us that have suffered the unspeakable heartbreak of losing a child. Please know you are not alone.”