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.