The hospital worker killed in a brutal stabbing by daughter Sydney Powell, 23, was a “mother figure” to a child suffering from leukemia

A childhood cancer survivor has spoken out in the trial of accused murderer Sydney Powell for the brutal stabbing of a beloved woman who helped thousands of other sick children.

Brenda Powell, 50, worked at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

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Brenda, 50, was more than a hospital worker, she was a friend and even a mother figure to her patients.

“You could talk to anyone and everyone could tell you that she’s probably like a mother figure, but to me she was really like a mother figure because my mother wasn’t there,” said Samantha Soltesz, a former patient at Akron Children’s Hospital, exclusively The US Sun.

Samantha, now 27, was just 10 years old when she met Brenda and was diagnosed with adult-onset acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006.

“Brenda was truly an angel during this incredibly difficult time and transition in life,” Samanta said.

A few months before her diagnosis, Samantha’s mother left her family, leaving her father to raise the children.

Samantha said it had been “not an easy time for us” and added that Brenda was there for her and her father.

“He couldn’t have done it without her,” she said.

Samantha added: “Every time I had a spinal tap or bone marrow operation, Brenda was there. I didn’t let the doctor do anything.”

“Brenda would hold my hand and talk to me through it and my dad would always leave the room.”

Samantha remembered Brenda speaking highly of her daughter Sydney, saying she was on the soccer team and got good grades.

Over a decade later, Sydney was accused of killing her mother, a woman who influenced Samantha’s life and the lives of countless others.

“She has helped hundreds of thousands of families over the years going through the most difficult things in their lives,” Samantha said of Brenda.

In March 2020, Sydney, then 19, allegedly stabbed her mother to death after getting into an argument, according to police documents obtained by Court TV.

During the trial, it was revealed that Brenda was stabbed 23 times, mostly in the neck and back of the head, according to the outlet.

Police found Brenda injured after someone applied for a welfare check at the University of Mount Union, where Sydney was previously a student. Brenda later died in hospital.

The 911 caller said he was on the phone with Sydney and heard “yelling.”

In the early days of Sydney’s trial, Akron police Lt. David Whiddon took the stand and claimed that looking through Sydney’s phone made it clear that she was no longer attending college after her academic probation.

“You could tell from a lot of the messages that she hadn’t told her family and that her mother wasn’t aware of it,” Whiddon explained.

While the motive behind Brenda’s murder is still unclear, Sydney pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

Sydney’s defense lawyer reportedly claims the now 23-year-old was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the murder and was in the midst of a psychotic crisis.

“I just feel like she did it out of panic rather than madness,” Samantha said.

Samantha believes Sydney needs to be held accountable for her alleged crimes.

“I really just want her to be held accountable and take responsibility for this,” Samantha said.

“It’s just heartbreaking and devastating and has affected so many more people than I will ever know.”

Samantha added: “I just want to see some justice for Brenda and all the people who were affected by this.”