CNN political reporter Andrew Kaczynski and wife and Wall Street Journal bank reporter Rachel Louise Ensign mourn the loss of their 9-month-old daughter Francesca, who died on Christmas Eve after a battle with cancer.
Andrew, 31, shared the devastating news on Twitter. “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 tweeted. – 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.
Andrew announced in September that, at 6 months of age, Francesca was diagnosed with an “extremely rare and very aggressive rhabdoid brain tumor”. Since then, his friends, colleagues at CNN, as Jake Tapper and Twitter followers supported Francesca and her family while posting updates about her health. Months ago, she underwent brain surgery and developed meningitis. In the past few weeks, Francesca has battled a fungal infection – a complication of her chemotherapy, and has been placed on respirators and life support devices.
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On Thursday, Christmas Eve, Andrew tweeted, “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.” Hours later, he announced his death and his wife shared an obituary that they wrote for their daughter.
“In her short life, Francesca was an outgoing, bold and curious baby,” he said. “She had huge, deep brown eyes that went with whatever her parents were doing. She loved to eat and be cuddled, especially at night. Sesame Street a fan, Francesca liked to take long walks in New York City and Boston, play with her toys and balloons, watch speech therapy and ‘pet’ (ie, grab) her Ryland cat. “
The couple wrote, “One of her favorite activities was to practice rolling in the crib from side to side. She loved seeing her parents, Andrew Kaczynski and Rachel Ensign, and greet them with the biggest smile in the world and an animated kick when she woke up from a nap. Her many smiles thrilled the world. She was so generous to them, even when most of the smiles back were covered in masks and even when she faced challenges that would scare an adult, like a cancer diagnosis or being born with hearing loss. “
Andrew and Rachel wrote that their son “showed his parents a kind of love that they have never known before and will never forget”. The obituary also states that Francesca also left “Bubbe, her grandparents, her aunt and uncle and cousins”.
Instead of flowers, food or gifts of any kind, donations can be made in honor of Francesca for the PMC Winter Cycle charity event, which donates its proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.