Homecoming Parade: Laconia Police escort Woodland Heights student to city from Boston

LACONIA — Maryah Lamontagne is barely 7 years old, and has already gone through more than most people ever do in leukemia treatment. After nearly two months at Boston Children’s Hospital, she returned home, with plenty of fanfare.

Lamontagne and her parents were given a police escort from Boston on Thursday, and the procession made its way through the Woodland Heights Elementary School parking lot, where classmates and school staff lined the sidewalk to cheer her on, holding signs of support.

“This is way beyond what we ever imagined,” said Justin Lamontagne, her father, who rode with Maryah and her mother, Kayla, in a Laconia Police cruiser. “We thought we were just getting one cop car. There were State Police from Mass., and these guys. I’ve never been through Boston so fast in my life. It was the coolest thing in the world. And this is amazing. I can’t believe everyone’s out here doing this.”

Kayla said she was completely taken back by all the support shown in the community for her daughter.

“This is just so amazing,” Kayla said with a big smile on her face. “This is the sweetest thing ever.”

Maryah, a second grader at Woodland Heights, is battling B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare bone marrow and blood cancer that mostly affects children. She was admitted to the hospital for initial treatments on Aug. 3. After a series of infections and complications, Maryah was at Boston Children’s for 57 days.

“We’ve had three infections, two serious, crazy scary,” Justin said.

It’s been a hard run for the entire family, including her little brother, Axtyn, who was at the school holding a sign. Axtyn is a kindergartner at Woodland Heights, and he walked right up to Maryah, and give her a big hug when he saw her get out of the cruiser.

Her grandparents, who she calls Mimi and Papa, were also there to greet Maryah with hugs. He grandfather, Don Lamontagne, said he has stage 4 renal cell carcinoma, and has acted in solidarity with Maryah.

“I know what she is going through,” Lamontagne said. “This is such a heartfelt thing. The Children’s Hospital is so excellent, too.”

It was a lot for Maryah to take in, but she gave out some hugs and flashed smiles, and waves, to her classmates. The students were enthralled by the fact she was brought home with the help of Laconia Police. The Laconia Fire Department met them at the city line, and brought some vehicles to help clear the way for Maryah to get back home.

“She is just beyond words,” Justin said. “Everything from Boston to here that the police set up, it’s just incredible. Everybody was so incredible.”

Principal Michaela Champlin said since Maryah hasn’t been to school this year, she appreciated Laconia Police organizing the ride during school hours.

“So incredibly grateful for the Laconia Police making this happen, and be able to time it for when kids are here,” Champlin said. “For kids to see, those that know her and those that don’t, just the feeling of community to rally behind somebody, and give her that sense of how much people care about her here.”

Champlin said in the 24 hours leading up to Maryah's return, the students worked on making signs, and were so excited about being able to greet her.

“The amount of signs that people created, the amount of kids overjoyed thinking about today, they see somebody battling something, and persevering,” Champlin said.

Maryah’s kindergarten and first grade teachers, Holly Knowles and Jen Connelly, worked together to share thoughts about their student.

The teachers said Maryah lights up every room she's in. They called her “a social butterfly" who loves to be around friends.

The teachers said at recess, she loves cheering on classmates and making sure everyone is included. They described Maryah as having a fun, witty personality, and a great sense of humor. Maryah is also a lover of reading, and is often found visiting the book vending machine at the school.

Maryah loves to draw, color, and paint pictures for others, her teachers said.

Champlin said the ability for the school and the police and fire departments to connect like this was something special. She said initially, the plan was to bring her home later in the day, after school was out, but Laconia Police were able to pull some strings.

“For the students to witness something like this, and see a community show up when people need it, that’s my favorite part about this place. Laconia is like this,” Champlin said. “I’m certain we would have had a great family and staff turnout at 5 p.m. someplace else, but to have it here at Woodland Heights, at a place so important to her, feels really nice.”

Chief Matt Canfield called events like this “one of the best things we can do as a policy agency.” He said bringing the community together for a young child who needs the support brings a tear to his eye.

“A 7-year-old going through tough medical treatment, and to be able to put a smile on her face, and welcome her home after being in the hospital for so long, is amazing,” Canfield said.

Canfield said he got word from Maryah’s Mimi, Marcia Lamontagne, about how she would be coming home soon after a long stint in the hospital. Canfield was then in contact with Kayla about the police escort. He offered to do what he could to help, and he got on the phone with contacts to bring together the plan.

Canfield contacted Champlin to collaborate on timing, and he said it couldn’t have come together any better.

“No child should have to go through this in life so early, so if we can be a positive light for her, and bring a little hope to her, it is a great day for us and a great day for the City of Laconia,” Canfield said. “I can’t praise Woodland Heights enough for all their collaboration and willingness to make this special for her.”

Canfield said one thing that can be lost in the shuffle is how illnesses affect other children in the family. Axtyn hadn’t seen his sister in nearly two months, and he said they wanted to make sure he knew he wasn’t forgotten.

Officer Megan Denutte and dispatcher Lori Marsh worked with the Laconia Police Relief Association to get some gifts, including a LEGO set for Axtyn.

“He hasn’t seen her in two months, and we wanted to look out for him, as well," Canfield said.

The family was also given gift cards for gas and food, and Maryah was gifted a basket of things like a unicorn blanket, and drawing materials.

“Officer Denutte and Lori pulled that piece together, and secured a donation from the Relief Association to get thoughtful gifts for the family,” he said.

Fire Chief Tim Joubert was happy to be a part of the event, saying the police and fire departments’ objectives go far beyond what meets the eye.

“The primary goal is to make a difference in people’s lives,” Joubert said. “I am so honored to participate.”

Later in the day, the Lamontagnes hosted friends and supporters to celebrate Maryah coming home. They had food, music and even a petting zoo for the kids to enjoy at their house.

While she is back home, there is still a long road for Maryah.

“She goes back tomorrow, and we go back and forth now,” Justin said Thursday. “So, we’re cleared from the hospital. Her body is making her immune system again, and stuff. But she’s happy to see everyone. She’s talked to one person once since we’ve been down there, you know?”

Justin said she has been getting stronger, and that is uplifting for his whole family to see, but it's something no child should ever have to go through.

“She’s 7, just turned 7 on July 21st, and seeing my baby girl suffer was hard.”