LA VERNIA, Texas -- At the Concrete Cemetery in La Vernia, Janet Pollok and her friends brought birthday balloons to Luke Pollok's gravesite Wednesday and sang "Happy Birthday."

"It's the hardest thing I've ever been through," Pollok said. "You're not supposed to lose a child. You're supposed to go first."

The pain of losing Luke to cancer seven weeks ago is still strong. Those who know Luke know the simplest things made him happy.

"He just cherished every little thing that most of us would take for granted," Pollok said.

Since Luke first became ill in January, his family chronicled his battle with cancer. The ups, downs and sometimes in painful detail online on caringbridge.org.

More than 211,000 people from around the world have followed the Pollok family's difficult journey. They gained support during Luke's struggle and still find love and comfort from the Web site even after his passing.

"The prayer and support that we got from people that we've never met, that we probably will never meet was incredible," Pollok said.

As Luke's mom wrote herself in the online journal, "Luker lives on within us everyday."

The Polloks grieve a loss but also celebrate a short and miraculous life.

"He was wise beyond his years, and I know he had a divine purpose in the short 10 years he was here," Pollok said.

On what would have been his 11th birthday Wednesday, Luke's neighbors in Poth put up Christmas decorations early because Luke loved the holiday season.