Delaney Krings, a 5-year-old from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, who was diagnosed with fatal brain cancer in October 2022, has died.
Heather Krings, Krings’ mother, posted the news to the family’s CaringBridge page late Saturday, Jan. 28.
“Our Sweet Angel Baby has earned her wings,” Krings captioned an undated snapshot of her daughter beaming while climbing a tree. 12.16.2017 — 1.28.2023. Fly high, my sweet baby.”
Krings tells that the greatest way to remember Delaney is to “be kind.”
“Pay it forward in her name,” Krings says.
The mother of three thinks that the love that has been shown to her family is a sign of the love that Delaney has left behind.
“Please know in your heart she’s sharing a little piece of her love with you now, too, in the hopes that it helps you find light when it’s dark, and find love when you’re sad,” Krings tells TODAY.com.
Delaney, who was four years old at the time, was diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma on October 31, 2022. Doctors at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee told her parents she had six to eight weeks to live.
The family’s goal was simple: celebrate Delaney’s fifth birthday on December 16.
When Delaney’s friends learned of her diagnosis, one suggested a card drive to commemorate Delaney’s big birthday. The word immediately went throughout their community, and eventually across the country. Thousands of cards arrived in Wisconsin from all over the world, including from Antartic research scientists.
“It’s a little overwhelming. “She’s gotten so much love,” Krings told TODAY.com at the time, adding that Delaney had even received a virtual greeting from JJ Watt.
On Delaney’s final birthday, Dec. 16, people marched in a birthday procession.
“I’m just glad she gets to celebrate her birthday,” Delaney’s father, Jack Krings, told NBC News affiliate TMJ4 News in Milwaukee. “There’s no way to thank everyone, but we appreciate everything from the bottom of our hearts.”
