WILTON – Neighbors, friends and community members were sweating under the hot sun Wednesday as they built a special garden for Savannah Hurley, who is struggling with cancer.

“To me it is a love garden, lots of love,” Earlene Lamb said as she took a break from laying wet newspapers in the dirt to prevent weed growth. “She’s a precious little angel who is dying of cancer. It’s just such a tragedy.”

Savannah, 7, nicknamed “Princess Savannah” for her love of princesses, is back in the hospital this week as doctors try to stabilize her pain. She was expected to return home later Wednesday. It was expected the new garden would greet her.

Savannah was diagnosed with Wilm’s tumor, a kidney cancer, in 2005, and it later spread to her lungs and continues to grow.

Volunteers put in black edging in as they created a garden area next to Hurley’s home.

A wooden arbor had been built, some dirt turned and some wet newspapers placed on top.

Children raked the yard.

Dave Phair of Dixfield and Ben Bridges of Wilton, a neighbor of the Hurley’s, worked to start a rototiller to turn the dirt faster and easier than the shovels that were being used.

Bridges, a teacher at Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, got the idea for the garden a few days ago and went out to seek donations in Franklin County to put his plan in action.

Bridges rototilled as Phair mowed the Hurleys’ lawn. He then went across the street and continued working on a throne he is building to place in the garden for Savannah.

Pink flowers ranging from lilies to begonias, sat in pots in his driveway waiting to be planted.

He also plans to build two small chairs in it for Savannah’s loyal subjects, her younger sister and brother, Kiara and Donovan.

“We hope to give her a place when she is at home to get away from it all, to bring flowers and bring her a little peace to her soul,” Bridges said.

Phair’s wife, Karen, a teacher at Dirigo High School and friend of Bridges, was digging in the dirt and installing edging.

She doesn’t know Savannah or her family but when Bridges put the call out for volunteers she decided to help.

“We have a lot of cancer in our family,” Phair said. “I’m glad to step up and help.”

Siiri Stinson of Wilton and a relative of Savannah by marriage, said she admires the young girl’s courage.

She’s an amazing example of being able to handle something difficult with a good attitude, especially when it is not going to get better, it’s only going to get more difficult, Stinson said.

“She has so much courage. I’m amazed by it,” Stinson said.