CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski and his wife Rachel Louise Ensign are mourning the loss of their 9-month-old daughter Francesca, who died on Christmas Eve after a months-long battle with cancer.
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On Friday, Kaczynski shared the tragic news on Twitter, writing that he and the ensign, a Wall Street Journal reporter, are “heartbroken” at the loss of their daughter.
“We are heartbroken to have to announce that our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mother and father,” he wrote. – There will always be a bean-sized hole in our hearts for her. We are very grateful to have met your love. Francesca, we love you.
We are heartbroken to have to announce that our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mother and father. There will always be a bean-sized hole in our hearts for her. We are very grateful to have met your love.
Francesca, we love you. https://t.co/OGml2nZ12H
– andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 25, 2020
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The reporter announced in September that his daughter Francesca was diagnosed with “an extremely rare and very aggressive rhabdoid brain tumor”
In September, Kaczynski shared that his daughter was diagnosed with an “extremely rare and very aggressive disease” rhabdoid brain tumor. “
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“Francesca is the strongest and most resistant person”, he tweeted on September 12th. “Less than a week ago, she had two brain surgeries and is already at home smiling. I’m sure she will fight it.”
Video: 4-year-old girl fights leukemia at Christmas, while her family fights COVID-19 (KMBC Kansas City)
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Last week, Kaczynski said that Francesca, affectionately nicknamed “Feijão” by her parents, developed a “terrible fungal infection.” It was then placed on a ventilator and life support.
Before Francesca’s death, the CNN reporter He asked that everyone keep their daughter in their prayers during the holiday.
If anyone can pray for our Beans this Christmas, just ask them to include Francesca in their thoughts and hope for a Christmas miracle for our family.
– andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 24, 2020
“If anyone can pray for our beans this Christmas, I would just ask them to include Francesca in their thoughts and hope for a Christmas miracle for our family,” he wrote.
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In an obituary written by Kaczynski and Ensign, the parents remembered their daughter as “an outgoing, bold and curious baby”.
“A fan of Brooklyn’s Sesame Street, Francesca liked to take long walks in New York City and Boston, play with her toys and balloons, do speech therapy and ‘pet’ (ie, grab) her Ryland cat.
“Her many smiles thrilled the world. She was so generous to them, even when most smiles were covered in masks and even when she faced challenges that would scare an adult, such as a diagnosis of cancer or being born with hearing loss,” wrote the couple.
The parents also thanked all staff at Boston Children’s Hospital who “treated Francesca with remarkable love and kindness”.
“Francesca showed her parents a kind of love that they have never known before and will never forget,” added Kaczynski and Ensign.
Instead of flowers, food or gifts, donations can be made in honor of Francesca for the PMC Winter Cycle charity event, which donates all proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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