With an outpouring of concern and support, the Morgan Hill
community reached out to make the month following the accidental
death of 10-year-old Danny Scianna a bit easier for his family.
With an outpouring of concern and support, the Morgan Hill community reached out to make the month following the accidental death of 10-year-old Danny Scianna a bit easier for his family.
“Danny was a wonderful child, a wonderful son,” said Ledonna Scianna, Danny’s mother. “He was very inquisitive, he was self-motivated, and he always tried to do the best he could in everything he did.”
His father, Mark, said what the family is noticing, now that the immediate reaction to Danny’s death on Feb. 9 has passed, is the void in their home.
“It feels much emptier, much quieter in the house,” he said. “It’s like there were 10 of us and now we have three in the house.”
Danny’s 14-year-old brother, Sammy, is coming to terms with the loss but missing him in small, painful ways, Ledonna said.
“We have a trailer that we take on vacation, and one of the small sleeping nooks is where he and Danny would normally sleep, talking, playing cards,” she said. “He has already realized that he won’t have Danny with him there this summer.”
The family has received messages of comfort from the community, their church and Danny’s school. A fifth-grader at Paradise Valley, Danny had many friends who wanted to let his family know what they thought of him and how they will miss him.
Danny’s class prepared a book for the family, “Thoughts and Memories of Danny.” Students filled the book with pictures and notes:
“Dear Scianna Family, Danny didn’t deserve to go. He was so funny and especially nice. One day at recess I fell down and he helped me to the health clerk. He was the person everybody wanted to be around. I wish he was still here. I hope your family is feeling OK. I will never forget Danny. He will always be a big part on my heart. Love Melanie.”
(The opposite page has a picture Melanie drew of a girl and boy holding hands and the words “May we always be together” above.)
“Dear Sciannas, Danny was a kind, funny and had good grades. He was the master in handball way more better than me of course. We must think of good things about Danny. From a friend. Friend forever.”
“Dear Sciannas, Your son will always be with us in heaven, Amy.”
“Dear Scianna family, Danny was a very kind and caring person. Elizabeth, He is in Paradise.”
“Dear Danny, We all miss you when we found out we were shocked we wish you where hear hope your having a great time in heaven. Marc.”
“Thoughts from the teacher, Danny exemplified everything good about kids. He was fun, witty, bright and a really good friend to all. Although there’s a void in our class, he’s left us with wonderful memories. Our thoughts of him will keep our spirits alive. With Love, Ms Ferri.”
Losing a child can tear even the most loving family apart, but the Sciannas have pulled together to help each other. And they have reached out to others during this time to help them stay strong.
Mark and Ledonna said the support they have received and their faith has helped them through this first month.
“We also feel that there are two ways we can look at this,” Mark said. “We can be angry that he was taken away from us, or, the way that we think is best, is to be thankful that God gave him to us, even for so short a time … He was an inspiration and a blessing.”
The Sciannas say they were not surprised at the overwhelming care and concern, thoughtfulness and support they received from their church, South Valley Christian, where the family participates in many activities aside from regular church services. But they did not expect the nearly 700 people that showed up for Danny’s funeral service.
“It was just incredible,” Mark said. “People were standing outside to listen, to be a part of it … It really warmed our heart to know that Danny has touched so many lives.”
Danny’s friends in the neighborhood – some older, some younger – also reached out in their own way to let the Sciannas know how much he meant to them.
“They brought this (a board decorated with their names and messages) to the house as a group,” Mark said. “I don’t think they knew what to say at first, but then they told us, many of them with tears, how much they would miss him.”
The living room of the Scianna house is filled with memories of Danny – cards, pictures, drawings and memorials like the one made by the neighborhood kids, as well as a large carton full of letters the family had received.
Another, more public, memorial is in the works. Danny’s church youth group, the AWANA’s, regularly meet, weather permitting, on a hillside by the church to sit and talk. The group has told the Sciannas they would like to put a bench there, with a plaque dedicating the space to Danny, who enjoyed participating in the youth group.
“Danny was very active in church activities, where he learned and shared about the Bible,” Mark said. “In the church AWANA program, Danny memorized many Bible verses, participated in AWANA Olympics, visited elderly in convalescent homes, and participated in other community outreaches.”
Mark mentioned another example of Danny’s faith.
“In a school project that he did in the third grade for Martin Luther King Jr. day, the students were asked to fill in the blank after ‘I have a dream,’” he said. “Danny wrote, ‘To tell the people about the Holy Bible, God’s word.’”
Taking the teachings of his family and his church to heart, Danny was known for his helpful attitude. Ledonna remembers many occasions where he helped his friends with small things that meant a lot.
“One of his friends, he was a little slow in learning to tie his shoes, and Danny would help him,” she said. “He had a kind heart.”
Danny was an avid swimmer, archer and loved to watch movies, the family said.
“His favorite character in ‘Lord of the Rings’ was Legalus because he shot the bow and arrow,” Mark said.
Danny will certainly be remembered by his family, but his caring attitude and his personality made an impression on many in the community.
“Danny fulfilled his dream in his life and in his death,” the Sciannas said. “He lived out his faith through his character traits of love, friendship and honesty.”
