Cancer is an abominably dreadful disease. The moment a diagnosis is made, the difficult treatments, and the possibility of having to say goodbye to loved ones.
Being a parent makes it much more difficult to observe tiny children suffering from this dreadful sickness. Simply told, it’s enough to break even the strongest of hearts.
When I see photos of Delaney Krings, it’s difficult for me to understand why a little child and her family should have to go through such a traumatic experience.
Delaney Krings of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in October 2022. Delaney was just four years old when her family heard the devastating news.
According to the Facebook page For The Love of Delaney, the family’s tragedy began when Delaney went to the doctor for a very minor ear complaint. Her parents, Heather and Jack, took her to the doctor, who diagnosed the young child with an ear infection and prescribed suitable therapy.
Although Delaney’s condition appeared to be improving at first, there were still signs that something wasn’t right, such as a loss of balance.
Her parents began to have serious concerns about their daughter’s health and began to trust their senses. They took her to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where physicians ran a battery of tests to figure out what was wrong with the 4-year-old.
Not long after that, Heather and Jack’s adorable daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor called DMG (diffuse midline glioma). It was fatal.
“For a minute, your heart pauses. The world comes to a halt. You can’t breathe, so you simply attempt to comprehend everything. “Did you know she’s four?” Heather explained.
Delaney’s life expectancy was only six to eight weeks, and her story could have stopped there. Instead, her family’s desire to ensure she had the best birthday possible turned her health battle into a worldwide sensation.
“The type of cancer she has, DMG, responds very little to any current treatment available,” Heather wrote on CaringBridge.
“In addition, the severity and size of her tumor when it was discovered essentially sealed her death just 12 weeks ago. I’ve spent months reading medical textbooks, research papers, etc., etc., and have found very little optimism in any of them.”
Delaney celebrated her fifth birthday on December 16. Everyone in attendance knew it would be her last. Her family wanted to provide her with a one-of-a-kind birthday celebration, so they ordered greeting cards from all around the world.
They were ignorant of the public’s reaction to Delaney’s account.
“On the maps that we have up, we have stickers to put for all of the locations for where the cards have come from, so Laney can see that she’s got love from all over the world from people she doesn’t even know. And it’s taking off. “I suppose 400 cards were mailed today,” Heather stated in December.
The term “celebrity” refers to celebrities who use their celebrity status to promote their products. You must ignore the clock because what is our objective here? To make the most of whatever time she has left.”
In the end, the sweet little girl received nearly 15,000 birthday cards and hundreds of video tributes from family, friends, and complete strangers all around the world. The Wisconsin Truck Takeover Enthusiasts prepared a special birthday march for Delaney, attracting up to 500 vehicles and parade participants.
“I’m simply glad she gets to celebrate her birthday. “There’s no way to thank everyone, but we appreciate everything from the bottom of our hearts,” Delaney’s father, Jack Krings, told TMJ4 News in Milwaukee.
Delaney died on January 28th, sadly.
“Our Precious Angel Baby has grown wings. “Fly high, my precious baby,” Delaney’s mother, Heather, said on CaringBridge, captioning a photo of her daughter: “Delaney Judith Krings. 12.16.2017 — 1.28.2023. Fly high, my darling.”
Organizer Judy Krings said on the GoFundMe page set up to help Delaney’s family:
“Like a flower that we see the beauty of for only a while, we all enjoyed every single day of Delaney’s 1,869 days on earth”. She made us all better individuals, both those she knew and those she never met. Make your mother proud. Like ours, your heart may be broken. A broken heart, on the other hand, has voids that can now be filled with the glue of love. Delaney, have fun with the love of your life in heaven.”
Delany’s mother now hopes that her daughter’s story will carry on forever and that her legacy will lead “to be a wave of small acts of kindness. This world needs more love, and I believe she was sent here to deliver it. Pure and straightforward love.”
No parent likes to watch their child suffer, and they would go to any length to make them happy again.
But, despite our best efforts, hopes, and prayers, certain things are simply beyond our control.
My heart breaks for this poor little girl and her family. May you rest in peace, Delaney, and may you be grateful for the way your smile and bravery touched the world.
