Helping children through creativity and music, the non-profit Sing Me a Song brings joy to a nine-year-old girl in Mahomet with a terminal illness.

MAHOMET, Ill. (WAND) - Kinley Nash is a nine-year-old with Sanfilippo syndrome, a terminal illness that impacts brain and other daily functions. Nonprofit, Sing Me A Story, is helping the Nash family find moments of joy through storytelling and music.  

"It's such a bright spot in what can be such a gloomy disease. When they reached out, we just thought that was such a neat way for our family to come together. I found it brought a lot of joy to sometimes our darkest days," Kinley's mom, Ashley Nash, said.  

Kinley was diagnosed with the disease three years ago. Her mom compares the illness to dementia, which can have harsh effects on Kinley's brain. Ashley explained there are peaks and downfalls, progressions and regressions. Thankfully, Kinley entered a clinical trial that Ashley said is helping with her speech.  

"Seeing Kinley's decline was really hard for me. She used to refer to me as mom. She knows who I am, but she doesn't always call me by my name anymore," Ashley said.  

When Sing Me A Story reached out to the family, Kinley was nonverbal, but Kinsley's little sister, Presley, stepped up.  

"Presley came up with this elaborate story about how we flew to Hawaii for pineapple on pizza, and you could tell that she was really trying to channel Kinley's energy," Ashley explained. 

The nonprofit takes stories written by children and turns them into songs.

Director of Operations, Autumn Rosado, helped the girls bring their story to life. 

"We can take those sweet stories and imaginations to the biggest stage we can find," Rosado said. 

That big stage for Kinley is the University of Illinois Wind Ensemble, where they will take the story from paper to instruments. Ashley hopes her daughters' stories will spread hope to the audience and give the message to understand everyone's differences.

Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.