Photo: Andrew Kaczynski/Twitter
CNN reporterAndrew Kaczynskiand his wife are feeling “grateful” for all of the messages and donations sent following thedeath of their 9-month-old daughter Francesca.
On Saturday, the journalist — who is married toWall Street Journalreporter Rachel Louise Ensign — expressed the couple’s appreciation for all of the kind words shared and money raised since their daughter’s death on Christmas Eve.
“Thank you everyone, your messages have touched our hearts,” Kaczynski, 31, wrote onTwitterSaturday.
After Francesca’s death, which came three months after Kaczynski said she was diagnosed with an “extremely rare and very aggressiverhabdoid brain tumor,” the family asked that all donations in honor of the infant be made to thePMC Winter Cycle charity event,which donates all proceeds to theDana-Farber Cancer Institutein Boston.
According to thePMC Winter Cyclepage, the event for cancer research has already raised more than $320,000.
GoFundMe
“We’re so grateful for how much money has been raised in Francesca’s honor for Dana Farber to fight this terrible disease and we are going to spend the rest of our lives involved in finding a cure,” Kaczynski wrote on Saturday.
On Friday, the reporter shared onTwitterthat he and his wife were “heartbroken” to announce that their daughter, who they nicknamed “Bean,” had died after complications due to cancer.
“We’re heartbroken to have to announce our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mom and dad,” he wrote. “There will always be a Bean-sized hole in our hearts for her. We’re so grateful to have known her love. Francesca we love you.”
In early September, Kaczynski shared that his daughter had already undergone"two brain surgeries"and she was the “strongest person and most resilient person.”
Earlier this month, Kaczynski said that his daughter had developed a"terrible fungal infection,“and was put on a ventilator and life support.
Prior to Francesca’s death, heaskedthat everyone keep his daughter in their prayers during the holiday. “If anyone can spare a pray for our Bean this Christmas, would just ask they include Francesca in their thoughts and hope for a Christmas miracle for our family,” Kaczynski wrote.
“A Brooklyn-basedSesame Streetfan, Francesca enjoyed taking long walks around New York City and Boston, playing with her toys and balloons, attending speech therapy, and ‘petting’ (i.e. grabbing) her cat Ryland.”
source: people.com
