Johanna's Story

Johanna Kirsten Manning, "Mommy's Princess", born a 3-pound, premature,  beautiful, and sassy ray of sunshine,  with a heart of gold. She touched the lives of so many everywhere she would go  in her 12 years. Spreading happiness and joy with her big genuine smile, extending a helping hand with the spirit of an angel. 

Johanna loved  Suncoast school,  where she was a student from Kindergarten until 6th grade, and met some lifelong friends.  She loved Science, Reading, and Art . She was a participant in the school's semi-annual  productions. One year, she was elated to play Pocahontas, and  a Sugar Plum Fairy in another.  There were also the annual  science fairs.  She  continued experimenting at home with slime, food, and hair products. We figured she would either blow something up, or invent something spectacular (we are still finding  her concoctions).  She developed her athletic demeanor as a competitive cheerleader at Christi's Fitness alongside her older sister, and  later tried her talent at soccer. This venture proved to be too large of a physical challenge as Johanna complained of "heart" pain. She was prescribed a heart monitor, and after 4 weeks it was found that she should refrain from  strenuous/high impact sports.  

Johanna began to concentrate on her love of music, writing, and designing. Her imagination was stimulating in the stories/poems that she would write  She was a youth devotional leader, choir member, and often performed solo  at her church alongside her older brother. She was not intimidated by large audiences, and she was very bold in her faith and spiritual convictions. She was by nature, an artist, and especially loved designing and creating clothes. She started with plastic trash bags and graduated to any fabric she liked in the house (including other family members clothing), and would make clothing for herself, her dolls, and even the dog, using only a needle and thread and a hot glue gun. Johanna aspired to be a fashion designer working in Paris and living in Milan Italy, the "Fashion Capital of the World".

 She had unconditional  love for her family and our dog  Sandy.  A major part of her life was playing with her cousins, hanging out, and having sleepovers. Her compassionate heart earned the position of Papa's personal assistant , Nurse, Massage Therapist, legs when they were tired, muscles when they were weak and IT person for his iPad, cellphone and any other electronics.  She could use the tools in his shed , put air in tires, and help change lawn mower blades along with so many other things.  She was granny's  grocery runner and water unloader, trash collector and pick-up day carter,  mail hurdler, and scalp oiler.   Her allegiance  for helping did not end with her grandparents. She was no stranger to community outreach  and service. This is  where she discovered her affection for serving the seniors in our community. She would make quarterly visits delivering special heartfelt tokens to the 10 women on her radar. She also enjoyed talking , cooking, and eating , which made her the perfect fit.  

 Johanna was a young  visionary. She had future plans to attend Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. She was already preparing to pledge by researching, learning  the founding fathers, and the sweetheart song of  Delta Sigma Theta sorority Inc.  We had spoken with a Delta Soror over the summer and she was waiting to enroll in the upcoming 2018-2019 academic school year.

We celebrated Johanna's 12th birthday on April 18, 2018 at the restaurant of her choice, Red Lobster. We had no idea that this would be her last.  Two months later she boarded a plane on a Thursday June 14, 2018  heading to a super fun-filled , overly anticipated weekend trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for and family reunion.  I spoke with her Thursday night and she was so excited that she had flown in a plane.  Friday morning, grandma called  asking if Johanna could go to Six Flags in Chicago with her aunt and cousins. A few hours later, I received the worst possible call a parent could receive.  My son picked me up, my daughter booked our flight, and I flew on a plane for the first time. I spoke with my mother, Physicians, and the neurosurgeon before  arriving. The more information they shared the bigger the nightmare grew. Faith was all I had  to maintain my sanity. After three days on life support, monitors, tubes, diagnostic testing, and surgery; "Mommy's Princess", a young, active, vibrant, essentially-healthy, pre-teen passed away on June  18, 2018 of a cerebral aneurysm.