Nikki Frazer, left, with Kathy Flay and Angela Wood from Te Awamutu’s Sew Easy. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Dakota Frazer will forever be 11.
And now, thanks to a gesture of community spirit in Te Awamutu, her mum Nikki has a “forever treasure” to keep her daughter’s memory close.
“It’s something I’ll always snuggle up with because she’s no longer here to cuddle,” Nikki told The News.
Dakota, a student at Maihiihi School 30kms south of Te Awamutu, died suddenly in December while on a holiday camping trip with her family – dad Aaron, mum Nikki and her three brothers Harley, Lane and Lincoln – at Taranaki’s Pātea Dam.
Nikki told The News they have yet to find out a cause, and in the midst of navigating “unexplainable grief” in the following months, she said a moment of inspiration came to her.
After gathering up a collection of her daughter’s clothes, Nikki went about seeing who could help her
sew them into the queen-sized blanket Dakota had with her on the camping trip.
“That process of going through her clothes took me three months, and it was just heart breaking. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do since she’s been gone,” Nikki said.
Nikki searched for someone who could complete the blanket. Enter the team from Te Awamutu’s Sew Easy – run by life-long friends Angela Wood and Kathy Flay.
Dakota Fraser
After hearing Nikki’s story, the pair decided to complete the blanket in their own time, for free.
“It’s so precious that both Kathy and I decided that we just couldn’t charge Nikki,” Angela said.
Kathy would often take the blanket away with her to the beach to work on at the weekends – “which Dakota would have loved,” Nikki said.
“She was so full of life, and was our little water baby. Whenever we were at the beach or a lake, she always wanted to be in the water no matter how cold it was.
“I can’t tell you just how wonderful Angela and Kathy’s gesture was and how much it means,” Nikki told The News.
It’s one of many kind gestures Nikki said the family had been blessed with as others have also paid tribute to Dakota.
“In my case, it’s taken a village to bury my child, and those expressions of support have been so moving.”
At home, Dakota’s bedroom has been left as it was, and Nikki said the newly-completed blanket will take pride of place there.
“There are things in there which still smell like that camping trip. It’s a space I often find myself in. I go there just to talk with her,” Nikki said.
A sensory garden established at Maihiihi School in Dalota Frazer’s memory. Photo: Suppled
