You can read about her {HERE} http://love4jlk.org/
We met Jennifer on the first day of school last year. September 5th 2012.
Nicole met Jennifer her first day of preschool. That was her very first friend. We learned that Jennifer has Celiac disease and that she was a special girl. When Nicole would bring snack to class we always made a special gluten free snack for Jennifer. We would bring rice crispy treats with the gluten free rice crispy. We made gluten free cookies another time. I remember telling Libby that i didn't use my wooden cutting board because she said Jennifer was so sensitive to gluten.
We really liked Jennifer. She lived just a few minutes away. She has a swing set in her back yard and thats where Nicole first learned to pump her legs on the swing set by herself. She did it because she saw her friend Jennifer was able to do it.
I couldn't believe I was a mom to a preschooler who has made friends. I was having play dates with moms from my child's classroom. Something I had always looked forward to doing.
This Fall September 2013 Jennifer went on to Kindergarten since she was turning 6 in October, we decided to keep Nicole in PreK this year. We kept in touch with Jennifer's family. Gilroy's a small town, and her grandma lived 4 hours down from my parents. So, we were lucky to see Jennifer more often! The kids rod bikes out front of the house. That was fun for Nicole.
October 27th I awoke in a hotel room after celebrating my anniversary. I read a message on my cell phone. "Jennifer has a brain tumor". They didn't know what kind yet but were going to go find out on October 28th. Jennifer Lynn Kranz 6th Birthday. She was diagnosed on her birthday monday October 28, 2013. DIPG. Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. I hate typing that.
There is no cure. You cannot operate on it.
Jennifer fought so hard. We brought flowers that week to the house. We let Nicole pick. She picked red roses in a pink glass vase.
We prayed. We prayed every single day. We prayed at meals, we prayed on the way to school every morning, we prayed at night before bed.
David and I started a prayer group. We had people ALL over the world pick a time slot to be praying. I picked 9:00am. Daily. I
Nicole would draw pictures and cards for Jennifer.
We were able to see Jennifer time to time when she was home on the weekends getting a break from her radiation treatments. No chemo. Just intensive radiation to shrink the tumor to try and expand her life and to make her comfortable.
After 6 weeks of radiation Jennifer was done with kindergarten and placed back into Nicole's pre K class. Nicole was SO HAPPY. She was with Jennifer at school again.
The third week of January we moved. That same week Jennifer became very ill. She was no longer in the class either. It was time for her to be with family. Nicole would send video texts to her. Sent her a Valentines Day card the first week of February with her favorite characters from Frozen.
Jennifer fought.
She fought harder than anyone i know.
Jennifer died. She died on February 12, 2014.
That was a really sad sad day. A day that we will maybe never forget.
I remember crying. I cry still.
I knew Jennifer was no longer in pain. I cant imagine how her mom & dad feel. Jennifer left behind parents, 2 brothers and a baby sister. She was loved by a strong family, and a lot of friends. Jennifer had a style of her own.
We are so sad. Life isn't fair. She had her whole life ahead of her.
I had to tell Nicole her friend was an Angel. Jennifer is an Angel.
I bought Nicole "Heaven is for real" kids version. We read it together and I explained heaven and how Jennifer was there. Nicole cried. She was sad she wouldn't physically get to see Jennifer on earth again. Its been 3 days since Jennifer's death. Nicole has talked about heaven a lot. Out of the blue she will say "oh Jennifer's in heaven now, not on earth". I don't want Nicole to think her prayers weren't heard. She prayed so hard. I don't want her to think when she's sick, she will die.
I hate that Jennifer died. Why did it have to be Jennifer.
Life is a gift. Everyday is a gift.
(Nicole and Jennifer)
Rest in Peace Jennifer. We will not forget you, and we will continue to find a cure for DIPG.No more suffering. We know you are sitting in Heaven next to our maker and you are whole again. No more pain. We cant wait to see you again JLK.
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