Desi Cechin passed away after two-year battle with cancer
Funeral services took place Friday for Desi Cechin, the local six-year-old girl who recently lost her battle to neuroblastoma cancer after suffering for two years.
Family members invited the whole community to join them in honoring and celebrating the legacy of their incredible warrior. About 1,650 people showed up to the services. News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 spoke to some folks who traveled all the way from New York to pay their respects.
The remembrance service began at about 10:45 a.m. at Southwest Community Church, located in Indian Wells at 44175 Washington St. News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 were at the ceremony, along with about 1,500 community members who all gathered to honor the life of Desi.
The burial took place immediately after at the Coachella Valley Cemetery at 82925 Avenue 52.
Desi’s family also wanted to thank, “each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts for loving, fighting, advocating, crying, supporting, carrying and praying for our daughter. She is the symbol of this community’s strength and she will never be lost or forgotten. She won this battle and she won it alongside all of you who have been there every step of the way.”
Desi Cechin passes away after two-year battle with cancer:
It’s with a heavy heart that we share news about Desi Cechin, the local 6-year-old girl who has been battling cancer for almost two years now. We’ve learned that little Desi has passed away.
The “Believing For Desi” page made a post early Thursday morning that she passed away Wednesday. Desi was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma and started ongoing treatment almost two years ago.
The community has rallied behind this superhero, holding fundraisers and vigils, trying to help her in her fight.
A Facebook post on Desi’s official page at about 4:00 Thursday morning read in part, “Hearts all over the world are breaking and it is absolutely easy to see why. Desirae was the beacon of everything that was innocent and pure in this universe. Her smile made you smile. Her spirit captivated you. Her love for life was beyond imagination.”
On “Believing for Desi” Facebook page Desi’s mother wrote:
“I want to thank you all for the prayers and love you’ve been sending, we are feeling things we have never experienced before and you are letting us know how much our daughter meant to you.
Hearts all over the world are breaking and it is absolutely easy to see why. Desirae was the beacon of everything that was innocent and pure in this universe. Her smile made you smile. Her spirit captivated you. Her love for life was beyond imagination.”
To read the full post, go to, ‘Believing For Desi’ on Facebook.
A memorial has been set up in the Shadow Hills community in Indio where people can sign their names to pay tribute to Desi.
We’ve also learned that Desi’s one wish was to talk to Taylor Swift, and according to a Facebook post, the pop star did Facetime with Desi on Wednesday for 15 minutes, and then 30 minutes later, Desi passed.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will keep you updated as fundraising events take place.
Remembrance services held for Desi Cechin