A profound and heartbreaking loss has shaken the Peoria community with the devastating news that 6-year-old Nola Amour has passed away following a tragic drowning incident earlier this week at Mt. Hawley Country Club.
Nola had been in critical condition since the accident, fighting for her life in the intensive care unit. What was meant to be a day of joy and celebration—an employee appreciation event attended by her family—turned in an instant into a nightmare no parent should ever face. Both Nola and her older sister were found unresponsive in the pool during the gathering. Lifeguards and staff members responded swiftly, initiating CPR and emergency measures. While her sister regained consciousness, Nola remained unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital with emergency responders continuing life-saving efforts along the way.
She was stabilized upon arrival and placed in critical care, and for days, the community held its breath, hoping for a miracle.
That hope was shattered today when Nola’s mother confirmed her passing in a raw and deeply emotional post shared with friends, family, and supporters. Her grief-stricken words paint a portrait of a mother’s anguish, capturing the depth of her love and the enormity of her loss:
“I CANNOT BELIEVE I have lost a child. I was supposed to be leaving with BOTH my kids, NOT just ONE! My sweet baby, my twin, my little replica! MY NOLA AMOUR!!! I’m so sorry, baby… If I could give my life for you to have yours I would—no hesitation… You were our live wire, the life of every single party… I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT GOD NEEDED YOU MORE THAN ME. I’LL NEVER ACCEPT IT. BABY I CAN’T TAKE THIS!!!”
Nola’s death has reverberated far beyond her immediate family. The Peoria community—and many more across the region—have responded with an overwhelming outpouring of grief, love, and solidarity. Candlelight vigils are being planned. Messages of support continue to pour in. Neighbors and strangers alike have wrapped the grieving family in compassion and care, offering their shoulders and their prayers.
Nola was more than a name. She was joy personified—a bright, spirited, and affectionate child who brought energy and love to every room she entered. Her family describes her as curious, outgoing, and vibrant—a true “live wire” who loved to laugh, dance, and follow her mom wherever she went. She was a girly girl who also had a fiery, funny side—so much like her mother, the family often joked she was her twin in spirit and in soul.
Her passing has also sparked difficult, necessary conversations about water safety and emergency protocols—conversations not rooted in blame, but in a shared desire to ensure that no other family experiences such devastation. Authorities continue to review the details of the incident, but the focus now remains on supporting Nola’s loved ones through their grief.
As the family prepares to honor and lay Nola to rest, the memory of this beautiful little girl—her laugh, her sparkle, her boundless love—lives on. In photos, in shared stories, in the broken yet enduring hearts of those who knew her.
Her light was taken too soon. But that light will never fade.
Rest in peace, sweet Nola Amour.
You were loved beyond measure.
You are missed beyond words.
And you will be remembered—always.