Delaney Krings, whose battle with terminal cancer moved thousands worldwide last year to send cards for her fifth birthday, has died.
Delaney, from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), an incurable pediatric brain tumor, in October 2022 and given six to eight weeks to live.
Delaney’s mother, Heather Krings, 43, wrote on Saturday 28 January that her daughter had died, twelve weeks after the diagnosis.
‘Our sweet angel baby has gained her wings,’ she wrote.
She said the family had received an outpouring of love in the last few days and urged others to ‘pay some kindness forward’ in her daughter’s name.
Thousands around the world responded to the heartbreaking story last year, sending cards to mark Delaney’s fifth birthday, and organizing a hometown parade in her honor.
Doctors diagnosed Delaney with cancer in October last year following an ear infection
Heather Krings (pictured) wrote in a post last week: ‘Hug your people. Love your people. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.’
Delaney’s illness began with an ear infection that wouldn’t go away. After taking her to the pediatrician, a CT scan showed that she has a tumor on both sides of her brain, all the way down to her brain stem.
After Delaney was diagnosed with DMG on 31 October 2022, her parents focused on celebrating their daughter’s life on her fifth birthday on 16 December.
A friend suggested a card drive, inspiring the local community and then the nation to send Delaney birthday cards.
The touching story moved thousands the world over to send cards to mark Delaney’s birthday in December.
Father Jack Krings told TMJ4 News in Milwaukee: ‘I’m just happy she gets to enjoy her birthday.
‘There’s no way to thank everybody, but, from the bottom of our hearts we appreciate everything.’
Hundreds more reacted to Heather’s post on CaringBridge, sharing kind words and their own experiences.
‘She’s being called elsewhere to finish her angel work,’ her mom told the Daily Mail in January
Last Monday, Heather Krings shared an update on the family’s CaringBridge page, 12 weeks since her daughter’s diagnosis.
‘As diligently as I try to keep myself together, there are increasingly more moments of unstoppable tears, rage at the universe, and simply empty helplessness.
‘We do everything we can to keep her as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Meds, 24-hour monitoring, ensuring she is warm and swaddled in clean butt wrappings and the softest blankies and pillows possible.
‘Anytime she is awake – which is getting more limited and farther between – we make sure she sees our faces and hears us softly telling her how much she is cherished. We still get the occasional point, wave, or snap to let us know her preferences.
She added: ‘She doesn’t deserve this lot in life. She has been the easiest baby, the sweetest toddler, the most loving and energetic, curious little girl. She has brought so much love and happiness into this world and has made such a positive impact for so many.
‘To see her slowly slip away from us in a body that is defying the light of her soul is devastating. The only solace we can hold close is that we are doing everything we can to keep her pain-free as possible, surrounded with warmth and love to spite the evil taking her from us.’
The message ended: ‘Hug your people, love your people. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.’