OAKLAND PARK, Fla. — A South Florida family gathered Friday night to remember a 5-year-old girl whose life was cut short.

The lakeside memorial includes a fairy garden created by Jasmine Kessler in honor of her daughter, Kallie.

“It’s bringing me more peace of mind outside with the breeze,” Kessler said.

Kallie, who was nonverbal and autistic, wandered off in October and ended up in the lake. Her father found her after a frantic search.

“This is the last spot I personally seen her, but not where she took her last breath,” he said.

Family members gathered at the site to sing one of Kallie’s favorite songs from the musical “Wicked.”

“She loved the song ‘Defying Gravity’ and she would act out Elphaba’s part,” a relative said.

Since her death, the family has worked to honor her memory by turning their grief into action.

They’ve created a nonprofit aimed at helping families in low-income neighborhoods, including providing resources and raising awareness about autism.

“Kids who are on the spectrum are drawn to water. Kids with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers,” said Lailah Stukes, Kallie’s sister.

The family says they’re determined to keep moving forward.

Kallie’s parents have also launched a GoFundMe to help install fences around residential lakes, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

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