The baby was diagnosed with an "extremely rare and very aggressive rhabdoid brain tumor" in September.
Christmas is a joyous day for everyone as it is not only the time when they get to spend time with their loved ones, but also gives hope for a better year ahead. However, this day of festivity would forever be a day of immense sadness for a couple who lost a piece of their heart on that very day.
CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski and his wife Rachel Louise Ensign, a Wall Street Journal reporter, lost their 9-month-old daughter Francesca to a months-long battle with cancer on Christmas Eve last year, as per People. Taking to Twitter, Andrew shared the devastating news of his daughter's demise they called "Beans."
Sharing the couple's grief, Andrew penned, "We’re heartbroken to have to announce our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mom and dad. There will always be a Bean-sized hole in our hearts for her." However, they are trying to look at the positive side of the tragedy as Andrew continued, "We’re so grateful to have known her love. Francesca, we love you."
We’re heartbroken to have to announce our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mom and dad. There will always be a Bean-sized hole in our hearts for her. We’re so grateful to have known her love.
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 25, 2020
Francesca we love you. https://t.co/OGml2nZ12H
The little one was diagnosed with an "extremely rare and very aggressive rhabdoid brain tumor" in September following which she underwent brain surgeries. As little as Beans was, her size was just a deception because in another tweet on September 12, 2020, Andrew wrote, "Francesca is the strongest person and most resilient person. Less than a week ago she had two brain surgeries and she's already at home and smiling. I'm confident she will fight this."
To show how full of life little Beans was pre-surgery, the grieving father shared her video on December 27, 2020, from July which was before her diagnosis, and wrote, "I know a lot of you didn’t know Beans before her cancer diagnosis in September. She had such a pep in her step before she started treatment. And we’re so fortunate she got six normal months of life. This was from the end of July."
I know a lot of you didn’t know Beans before her cancer diagnosis in September. She had such a pep in her step before she started treatment. And we’re so fortunate she got six normal months of life. This was from the end of July. pic.twitter.com/5Y69iNoFhy
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 26, 2020
According to People, Francesca developed a "terrible fungal infection" following which she was put on a ventilator and life support for two weeks. On December 23, 2020, Andrew expressed the hurt of watching their daughter suffer through another tweet where he wrote, "One of the hardest parts of watching Francesca on life support has just been the limbo of everything. When she's not getting worse, but not getting better. Just the day in and out of waiting becomes so hard."
Hoping for a Christmas miracle, the parents requested people to say a little prayer for the baby. "If anyone can spare a pray for our Bean this Christmas, would just ask they include Francesca in their thoughts and hope for a Christmas miracle for our family." Unfortunately, little Francesca passed away on December 24, 2020.
If anyone can spare a pray for our Bean this Christmas, would just ask they include Francesca in their thoughts and hope for a Christmas miracle for our family.
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 24, 2020
In the heartbreaking obituary, the parents described their baby as "an outgoing, bold and curious baby" who had "huge, deep brown eyes that followed whatever her parents were doing." They said she used to greet Andrew and her mother Rachel "with the world’s biggest smile and an excited kick when she woke up from a nap."
They said that even though she "faced challenges that would scare an adult, like a cancer diagnosis or being born with hearing loss" she still greeted everyone she met with a smile that "sent a thrill through the world." The couple also thanked the Boston Children's Hospital for the "remarkable love and kindness" they showed Francesca.
They added, "Francesca showed her parents a kind of love they never knew before and they will never forget it. Beanie is survived by her parents, her Bubbe, her grandparents, her aunt and uncle, and cousins."
Andrew and Rachel shared that "in lieu of flowers, food, or gifts, donations can be made in honor of Francesca to the PMC Winter Cycle charity event, which donates all proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute."
The parents acknowledged the love, support, and donations that they received after they shared the news of the death of their little Beans, reported People. Taking to Twitter to thank everyone, Andrew wrote, "Wanted to thank everyone who has sent us messages about Francesca, the last month has been really hard and we appreciate them from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget the kindness shown to us and our daughter."
Wanted to thank everyone who has sent us messages about Francesca, the last month has been really hard and we appreciate them from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget the kindness shown to us and our daughter.
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 28, 2020
On January 2, 2021, the father expressed the plight of mourning the passing of the 9-month-old baby in another tweet and wrote, "One of the hardest things about losing our only child has been not having anywhere to put that love I learned as a dad when having baby Beans. I don't know what the healing process will be like, but it's just a feeling of having this hole missing in our lives."
References:
https://people.com/parents/andrew-kaczynski-spend-lives-finding-cure-after-daughters-death/
https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/13048105971089285139
https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1341808144222015490
