Mother whose five-year-old daughter is dying of terminal brain cancer pens post about her final days

A mother whose five-year-old daughter is dying of terminal brain cancer has penned a heart-wrenching post about what really matters, saying she is spending ‘every minute’ she can holding her little girl and making her comfortable in her final days.

Delaney Krings, from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), an incurable pediatric brain tumor, on October 31 and given six to eight weeks to live. 

In celebration of her fifth birthday on December 16, thousands of people from all over the world sent her cards and a hometown parade was organized in her honor.  

Delaney’s mother, Heather Krings, 43, shared an update on her youngest daughter on her family’s CaringBridge page on January 23 — 12 weeks after they received her devastating diagnosis. 

Delaney’s mother, Heather Krings, 43, shared an update on her youngest daughter on her family’s CaringBridge page on January 23 – 12 weeks after her devastating diagnosis 

‘Typically, I would apologize for the duration of time between my updates. However, from here on, I will not. I will not apologize for spending every minute focusing on providing as normal a daily life as I can for B and C,’ she wrote, referring to her older daughter, Brooklyn, 12, and son, Carson, 11. 

Krings shared that they are doing everything they can to keep Delaney ‘as comfortable and pain-free as possible’

‘I will not apologize for every minute spent attending to Laney’s needs. I will not apologize for every minute spent talking to, holding, snuggling, and gazing at this precious girl. Your texts, calls, emails, FB posts/comments/messages may go without reply, but it’s not because I don’t love and appreciate your concern. It’s because I simply can’t.’ 

Krings shared how she  trying ‘to keep [herself] together’ during this incredibly difficult time, but ‘there are increasingly more moments of unstoppable tears, rage at the universe, and simply empty helplessness.’

She explained that they are doing everything they can to keep Delaney ‘as comfortable and pain-free as possible,’ including medications, 24-hour monitoring, and ‘ensuring she is warm and swaddled in clean butt wrappings and the softest blankies and pillows possible.’  

‘Anytime she is awake – which is getting more limited and farther between – we make sure she sees our faces and hears us softly telling her how much she is cherished,’ she wrote 

Delany’s illness began with an ear infection that wouldn’t go away. Doctors discovered she has a tumor on both sides of her brain, all the way down to her brain stem

Delaney, whose tumors have left her with a crooked smile, has captured hearts around the world, and people continue to send her and her family their thoughts and prayers 

‘Anytime she is awake — which is getting more limited and farther between — we make sure she sees our faces and hears us softly telling her how much she is cherished. We still get the occasional point, wave, or snap to let us know her preferences. Very seldom we hear a squeaky version of her little muppet voice,’ she wrote. 

‘It’s been about a week, but this afternoon I heard “Momma, hug.” Immediately I laid my head on her chest and she hugged it, with a few little pats. When I lifted my head I was graced with both of her gorgeous hazel eyes open. It was all I could do to smile and tell her how much I love her, then a quick smooch before I had to walk away so she didn’t see me ugly crying.’ 

Delany’s illness began with an ear infection that wouldn’t go away. After taking her to the pediatrician, a CT scan showed that she has a tumor on both sides of her brain, all the way down to her brain stem.

‘She doesn’t deserve this lot in life. She has been the easiest baby, the sweetest toddler, the most loving and energetic, curious little girl. She has brought so much love and happiness into this world and has made such a positive impact for so many,’ Krings wrote.

Krings shared how it is becoming harder and harder to keep herself together in her daughter’s final days, saying ‘she doesn’t deserve this lot in life’ 

‘She has brought so much love and happiness into this world and has made such a positive impact for so many,’ Krings wrote of her youngest daughter 

Krings concluded her update by saying she hopes Delaney ‘knows how much she is loved’

‘To see her slowly slip away from us in a body that is defying the light of her soul is devastating. The only solace we can hold close is that we are doing everything we can to keep her pain-free as possible, surrounded with warmth and love to spite the evil taking her from us.’

The mom explained Delaney’s cancer — DMG — has ‘very little positive response to any current treatment available.’ She has been reading medical textbooks and research papers ‘for months and have found very little hope in any of them.’

Although the news of her inoperable brain tumor was gut-wrenching, Krings and her husband, Jack, were determined to make her last birthday special.

Family friend Sharon Tomlinson suggested they organize a card drive and began spreading the news to social media and local news outlets. Her office volunteered to collect the letters. 

In an interview with Today last month, Krings shared appreciation for Tomlinson, saying they had already received ‘hundreds and hundreds’ of letters that filled their daughter with joy. 

Love for Delany has poured in from all over the world and even caught the attention of NFL star J.J. Watt, who joined in celebrating her birthday. 

In celebration of Delaney’s fifth birthday on December 16, thousands of people sent her cards and a hometown parade was organized in her honor

Love for Delany has poured in from all over the world and even caught the attention of NFL star J.J. Watt, who joined in celebrating her birthday on Twitter 

‘Happy (early) 5th Birthday Delaney!’ the Arizona Cardinals defensive end tweeted, alongside a photo of him holding a card that read, ‘From Arizona back home to Pewaukee, I hope you have a fantastic birthday surrounded by family and friends!’

She also received a message from research scientists in Antarctica, who sent their love through an email because it would take ‘months to receive a card from Antarctica.’

Delany’s grandmother created a GoFundMe to help the family with medical bills with a goal of $200,000. So far, they have received 2,300 donations totaling more than $144,000 as people continue to send them their thoughts and prayers.  

Krings concluded her emotional update with her hopes for her daughter and a reminder to treat every day as if it is your last.  

‘We, as a family, can only find solace in the fact that in the 4 and a half years we were blessed to have with her, that we gave her the best life we could have. Loving family, great school, adoring siblings, adventures to the Farm and the Lake, fairs and festivals and water parks and even Disney World,’ she wrote. 

‘While I wish, from the depths of my shriveled little heart we could have given her more, I hope what she has seen of this life has been good and happy. By the grace of God, I hope she knows how much she is loved. Now and forever. Hug your people, love your people. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.’