Nine-year-old Layla’s final gift to another child after devastating motocross tragedy in NSW Southern Tablelands

Layla Rose De Haart, 9, had a “heart of gold” that her parents could not bear to watch stop beating.

“When you’re told that your child is clinically deceased and you have to make the choice to turn her machine off, it’s a choice you can never, ever, ever agree to,” her mother, Stephanie Rianna, said.

“And so her father and I decided we will donate her heart and give another child a chance.

“It would give her heart the chance to keep beating.

“My baby is a hero.”

The weekend everything changed

It was supposed to be a fun weekend away for Layla’s family and close family friends.

On August 8, the Sydney-based group headed to Lochmaree Motorbike Park in Jerrong, in the NSW Southern Tablelands, where Layla and the other family’s seven-year-old daughter were each riding their own motorbikes on a beginners’ track for children.

“The two little girls were just putting along, having the best time, and two strangers showed up and my daughter was hit from behind,” Layla’s father, Chris De Haart, told 7NEWS.com.au. 

“We never thought this would happen to our little girl. It’s your worst nightmare.

“Everyone was shocked, upset. It was very distressing.”

De Haart recalled the agonising wait for a rescue helicopter as CPR was performed on Layla, who was then flown to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

At the hospital, doctors delivered the devastating news that Layla had suffered catastrophic brain injuries and would not recover.

She was placed on life support, leaving Rianna and De Haart facing the prospect of having to turn off the machine keeping their daughter’s heart beating.

The couple decided to donate Layla’s heart, which was successfully transplanted into another child.

“We felt like it was such a waste of her beauty and her strength to just let it go,” Rianna said.

“Out of our tragedy, they’ve still got their child and it’s kept their family together ... it’s mended one mum and dad’s broken heart.

“I would not wish losing a child on anyone.”

Layla’s life was cut short on August 12, less than a month before her 10th birthday.

A beautiful life cut short

Rianna said Layla had been excited about her upcoming birthday and was planning a pamper party with all of her friends.

“Layla was the most beautiful girl in the world,” Rianna said.

“She was so bubbly and compassionate and caring.

“She just loved everyone around her and all she wanted in return was to be loved.”

Her caring nature was perhaps most obvious in the way she looked after her two younger brothers, aged seven and four.

“The moment her little brothers were born, she cried, she was so happy,” Rianna said.

“She used to love changing their nappies and feeding them their bottles.”

Layla would often offer to help put her youngest brother, Frankie, down for a nap.

She would place him in his pram, pull on her roller skates and skate around the house while singing Lauren Daigle’s You Say to him.

“She was like a mini mother to them,” Rianna said.

The nine-year-old adored babies and once told her mum she could not wait to become a mother herself, dreaming of having four children one day because Rianna made motherhood “look so fun”.

That caring nature extended to her parents too.

When Rianna worked night shifts, Layla would wake up in the morning and offer to make her breakfast.

“She would always ask, ‘Mum, can I make you French toast for breakfast?’” Rianna said.

Layla loved being in the kitchen, whipping up fried eggs, scrambled eggs and French toast for her family.

She even had her own little Kmart rice cooker, which she proudly used to make rice pudding.

“She was my best friend,” Rianna said, adding that they did everything together.

“She was more than my best friend. She was my first love, my soulmate.”

De Haart remembered Layla as “the best kid”, who was always helpful, happy and appreciative.

“Layla was a very responsible little girl,” he said. 

“She would not even get on her bike without all of her protective gear.

“She’d sing to herself while she was on her bike.

“She had never done anything that made us concerned.”

The parents are now waiting for police to complete their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Layla will be farewelled at a funeral on Monday, with family and friends gathering to celebrate her life.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family as they grieve.

For Rianna, speaking about her daughter is painful, but she wants the world to know who Layla was.

“I want people to know that out of this horrendous tragedy my daughter is a hero,” she said. 

“She gave another child the ultimate gift of life despite hers being taken,” she said. 

“Do not ever forget my daughter’s name or face.”