A few days after her death, India Buxton Taylor's family is considering how to commemorate her young life.
The 16-year-old, whose story touched many Ottawa area residents, died earlier this week from an extremely rare neuro-degenerative disease.
Her parents Lesley Buxton and Mark Taylor say India loved music, art, and animals.
"Wherever India went, there was always song," Lesley Buxton said. "Everywhere she went, whatever she did, she sang."
India's illness caused her to have terrible hallucinations, muscle atrophy and an extreme amount of seizures.
"In the end I would say she had more seizures than moments of non-seizures," Buxton said.
Over the past few weeks, India's condition deteriorated to the point where she could no longer swallow.
She spent her final days at Roger's House, a palliative care home for kids.
"No one should have to lose their 16-year-old daughter, it's really cruel," Buxton said, " but if I have any comfort, it's that I really believe she had a good death."
Buxton and Taylor credit the staff at Roger's House with making India feel at home and very well cared for during her time at the facility.
Both India's parents were by her side, cuddling her as she passed away early Friday morning.
They've started a website, called Onestrong.Org to shed light on India's case, and raise funds for further research.
There is no cure for the rare illness that eventually lead to her death.
India's parents hope to start a scholarship at her school, St. Michael's High School in Low, Quebec, for children who have shown bravery overcoming individual challenges, as they say India did.
"Every single thing she was good at was taken away from her, and think a lot of people would give up (in that situation)," Buxton said.
She never gave up, she found pleasure in the things she still had, and I think that’s a mark of bravery."
Her parents also plan on paying for singing lessons for children who love to sing but may not be able to afford lessons.
India's mother says whenever she hears music, she thinks of her daughter, and knows she is not alone.
"She's everywhere, she's in me...she'll always be with me."
With files from CTV's Claudia Cautillo
