LOVE4JLK

UPDATE BELOW

It’s been a very sad few weeks.

I’ve been trying to write this post in my head for awhile now. I never know quite how to say it.

Let’s start with the basics. Sadie attended preschool last year with a special little girl, Jennifer.

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They played and learned together at school, and Sadie adored her. They share the same middle name, and both have sisters named Charlotte.

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 Jennifer was diagnosed last October (on her birthday, no less) with an extremely aggressive and incurable brain tumor.

Jennifer lost her battle yesterday.

They gave her 9 months to live. She got shorted. By months…..by years…

You can read more of her story over on her mom’s blog or support them on the LOVE4JLK Facebook page.

Also, this beautiful post went up yesterday.

She (Libby) is an AMAZING example of motherhood and grace.

I cannot fathom what her family is going through. It is breaking my heart to pieces…and I don’t even know them very well.

 I want to try and help them out, since the coming months are sure to be a mighty struggle. They have a page for donations here…

But I want to reach out to you, my amazing readers.

I’d like to donate all the money from my pattern sales from today (2/13/2014) to their family. 

So if you’ve ever thought about buying one of my patterns, please take this chance to do some good at the same time.

I hope we can help make this horrible situation just a teensy tiny bit…I don’t even know.

I just need to do something.

Article on The Shame of 4%…good thoughts and links to sites where you can help.

UPDATED: The Kranz family has established a tax deductible fund. 100% of donations goes to the research team that Jennifer’s tumor was donated to via the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children

 UPDATE:  we have raised $3380 for the family!

I didn’t even imagine we could do that much.

THANK YOU so much for your selflessness and generosity.

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Comments

  1. Oh my heart is absolutely breaking for Jennifer’s family…I can’t even begin to imagine. What an amazing Mum to blog such deep sorrow so eloquently. I’m in Australia and I’m crying for the loss of their beautiful baby girl – I’m so very, very sorry x

  2. How horribly sad. I will keep the family in my prayers.

  3. Thank you for this Jess, I think what you are doing is a wonderful idea. As a mother of a little girl the same age as Jennifer and Sadie this just breaks my heart. I have bought your Olivia pattern in memory of little Jennifer, my heart goes out to her family at this devastating time. X

  4. It breaks my heart too and I don’t even know them. Such a beautiful family and the photos are so sweet. Thanks for the reminder to live every day to its fullest.

  5. Evelien VDM says

    Hi Jess,

    Reading this blog is heartbreaking, words fall short…
    I’m sure they’ll appreciate every gesture!

    Take care…

  6. I am so sorry for their loss. I have a terrible dislike for cancer. My little Sister in law was just diagnosed with cancer, and it just makes me mad, she has two tiny babies. It is a helpless feeling to look on, and not be able to do anything. I just told my husband, I always feel like I want to make it better, and then I start crafting. Why can’t crafting cure cancer? I guess it can’t, but maybe the little things we do can brighten their day/lives in small ways.

    • Oh no…I am so sorry…my eyes have been opened to cancer and I want to help somehow…it’s just devastating.crafting does help us deal with it-I understand that!

  7. Ugh, I don’t even know what to say. Horrifyingly awful. I can’t even begin to fathom what that family is feeling right now.

  8. That is unimaginable. I can’t understand that kind of loss. So thoughtful of you to donate.

  9. I am so sorry to hear that! I can’t even fathom it. My heart and thoughts are with them.

  10. I don’t know how to sew, but I just bought the bapron pattern because I wanted to show my support. Prayers to the family. I can’t even imagine…

  11. My heart absolutely breaks reading about another sweet little child be lost to the horror that is DIPG. My story is much like yours. My daughter went to preschool with a sweet little girl named Kaylie. She was my daughters first real friend and they shared a love of bugs and Super Mario Brothers which is a bit uncommon in little girls. Kaylie was diagnosed with DIPG the February 2010 of her Kindergarten year. She battled long and hard but ultimately lost her fight New Years Eve 2012. I bought the Olivia pattern in Kaylie and Jennifer’s memory.

    • Oh man-that is awful. These diseases should not take our children…so unfair! Thanks for your support-hopefully we can help even a little!

  12. Heartbreaking….I have two daughters and can’t imagine the heartache. Her family will be in our prayers.

  13. Kimberly janssen says

    This is such a tragedy and it breaks my heart that children have to go through this. I have a friend who lost her niece to this same tumor several years ago. Sophie only lived 7 months past her diagnosis. So much research is still needed to even get treatments that work for DIPG. Thanks for your part by donating today. I will be buying a pattern.

  14. Jess this is just devastating…My heart is breaking and I don’t even know you or the family personally. I have an almost 2 year-old who is also named Sadie, and I am learning how to sew (and blog), in big part due to being inspired by your beautiful blog. I also lost someone dear to me to a brain tumor when I was a teenager. She was 9 years old when she was diagnosed and died when she had just turned 10. It was a time in my life I will never forget… wrestling with how something like this could be allowed to happen to a precious, innocent child. The only positive thing I could take from such a painful situation was the reminder to live NOW. Because we just don’t ever know. A life can be taken from us when it just feels all wrong, and the only comfort can be knowing that it was a life well-lived. Even if it was way too short. Whenever I hear stories like this it breaks my heart into pieces, but it gives me extra motivation to not just get through the day, every day, (which is what I tend to slip into, especially with the monotony of having little ones) but to make it count. To slather my friends and family with love and kisses. I think it’s wonderful that’ you’re donating proceeds today…I just bought the Nessie top and will be thinking of little Jennifer and her family every time I make it.
    xoxo

  15. Sara Speight says

    I have tears streaming down my face after reading that blog and I don’t know the family at all! I cannot imagine what her family is going through. The thing about cancer is we have all been impacted on. Off to buy a pattern.

  16. Loves.

  17. So sad. 🙁 I can’t even imagine their pain. Bought the Olivia pattern in Jennifer’s memory, her family will remain in my thoughts.

  18. Im so sorry l will be praying for her family. I bought the Olivia pattern. My daughter is three and l teach kindergarten. I can’t imagine the heartache the family is experiencing.

  19. My friend Stacey Dalton sent me this link. I’m a Gilroy mom, one of many touched by this family’s loss. I’m going to share your post on my blog, Facebook profile and page. Although I haven’t reached out to the family yet, I’m also working on a charitable donation to help the family or the charity/foundation of their choosing. Yesterday was a very sad day in Gilroy.

  20. I have been following the Love4JLK site since you posted it earlier this week and my heart is broken for them. Thank you for sharing their story, and for offering this tiny way to help. It is so terribly, terribly unfair.

    I am reminded that tomorrow is guaranteed to no mom. I will love my daughters both more fiercely and more tenderly in Jennifer and Libby’s honor.

    Thank you for sharing your talents and your family and your blog, and all of your inspiration. People like you make the world (and the internet) a lovelier place.

  21. Their pain is unimaginable, prayers for her family.

  22. My son was in class with Jennifer this January. I don’t know their family but have been and continue to pray for them. Heart breaking. I cannot even imagine.
    I bought 2 of your patterns for my little Olivia born last month.
    Thank you for doing this.

  23. My hearts break for Jennifer and her family. I have a 4 year old daughter and I can’t even imagine what they are going through. She is a beautiful angel looking over her family now. I bought the Olivia pattern. Thank you for telling us about JLK and know that we are crying with you.

  24. Jess, I have been following you for a couple of years now. I found you from a message board that I frequent when I was looking for an easy project to do when I started to learn how to sew. Your bapron tutorial was the first thing I made when I got my first machine and it is still my favorite. I bought the pattern to show my support. I have a 7 year old and could not imagine the pain this mother is experiencing. Will be praying for this family and yours. God bless.

  25. Lovaine Niblock says

    Jess, thank you so much for doing this. We all know money can never compensate for the loss of your child. However, by so many people buying the patterns maybe this family will know how many people are supporting them through this terrible time. When we are falling apart God is holding us together. I will be praying for the family that the Lord will help them through this time of grief and for the days ahead. And God bless you for doing this for them.

  26. Hello Jess,

    I’ve only found you through Kelani fabric’s email in Australia & downloaded your gorgeous wrap top to make form my grand-daughters.
    So horrible about your daughter’s little friend & I pray for the family & for her little friends too. We have friends who lost 2 daughters over a span of 5 years & it is a very sad place to be, for sure. My heart goes out to this family.
    I would like to purchase the Bapron pattern & the Nessie top please to help you in your support for this family.
    Thank you & God be their strength.

  27. My heart broke as I read the posts and viewed the photos. I am so sorry for your loss and I hope that your families can find peace within each other. I wish you lots of success with your pattern sales – I just purchased the bapron pattern. I also made sure to spend a few extra minutes tucking my little man in for his nap waiting until he was sound asleep.

  28. One cannot help but feel their heart break and to shed a tear when gorgeous little lives are lost far too soon. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
    May you rest in peace sweet little angel.

  29. This is heartbreaking 🙁 So sad for this family and all of her little friends too. They are all in my thoughts and prayers today.

  30. Roxanne Flores says

    🙁 This is so painful. I bought the Bapron and Nessie.

  31. I happily purchased the junebug dress it’s been on my wish list anyway. What a nice thing to do for her. This is so hard especially if you have little kids because you feel so sad for that family and then you think how it could easily be you. I have seen this happened twice in the past three years – one a brain tumor and the other a heart defect. I will keep her in my prayers. Thanks for sharing and opening your heart!

  32. Just makes me cry. P&PT for Jennifer and her family and friends.

  33. My heart is in my throat reading this. I am so very sorry for their loss.
    Oh that little girl.
    They will all be in our thoughts.

  34. Prayers to the family of that sweet little girl. So very, very sorry for their loss. A friend’s little girl is losing her battle with cancer right now, such a terrible nasty disease! 🙁 🙁 So kind of you to donate your proceeds, I am purchasing the Junebug and am happy to do so.

  35. Oh Jess. Can’t even find the right words. Thank you for sharing . I looked at the links you posted. The photos of little Jennifer in her princess dress at the hospital shook me to the core. My heart breaks for them and I can’t wait for my little princess wakes up in the morning so I can cover her in kisses. Now thanks to you all your readers can learn about the 4% and with your generous idea today we can help her family. I will keep them in our prayers.

  36. As a mother I am utterly heartbroken for this family that I do not know. Thank you so much for doing what you can to help them. I just picked up the Bapron and Olivia as I already have the Junebug. God bless them! I will be praying for peace and comfort for them.

  37. Bought the Nessie Top in Jennifer’s honor. This has stuck with me since you mentioned it on IG the first time. I have an almost 6 year old, so automatically I can easily put myself in her mother’s shoes. No mother should have to endure this. No child should either.

  38. It’s nearly 6am on Valentine’s Day here, and you really made me cry… The poor family, to loose such a sweet girl… Only about a month older than our eldest girl, I’m chilled by the thought …. I’ll go buy a pattern of you now…

  39. My oldest child was also born 10/28/07. I can’t imagine.

    I bought Olivia. Will be thinking of this family and praying for them to feel peace.

  40. Marnie Durbidge says

    All cancers are awful, but brain cancer is the cruelest of them all. So aggressive, no cure, and kills more kids than any other cancer. Let’s pray it is better understood so that there is hope one day soon. Will be happy to buy.

  41. Jess, thank you for doing such a generous thing for this beautiful family. I just finished reading their entire blog and am an absolute mess. I honestly cannot fathom the depth of experiences they have been made to endure these past few months. I purchased the Nessie top and wish I could do more to help them. Thank you or helping me help them.

  42. I cannot even express how sorry I am to hear of this – my heart goes out to you and to Jennifer’s family – may they find some small measure of peace by all the people who care – even the ones like me, who have only met her through your story. Nobody should have to go through this; I can’t imagine how Jennifer’s loved ones are coping. I will say a special prayer tonight and think of that little angel in heaven.

  43. I have a 6 year old as well, and am so thankful to be able to hear her still sleeping in her bed at this moment. My dad has cancer, and as awful as this is to me, I cannot imagine if it were my child. The LORD is our strength!

    I LOVE your blog and already have one of your patterns, and have been wanting the Nessie and Olivia patterns (and the bib as well!), and appreciate your generosity to this family. (I follow on Bloglovin, and I just got this post this morning, and purchased. I’m not sure if my purchase will count, but I still appreciate the kindness you are showing to this family!)

  44. Jodie Gingerich says

    I can’t imagine the heartbreak that this family is going through. I have four children and to even think of losing one of them. She seemed like such a sweet girl. Thank you for donating the proceeds of your patterns to her family. I bought the Nessie top pattern. I would have bought more but unfortunately I already have quite a few of your patterns. I will be thinking about this family when I sew that pattern together :*(

  45. Was directed here from another site, are you still donating proceeds from your patterns today?

    Praying for the family and for your little girl, how hard to lose a friend so young.

  46. I can’t imagine. It makes my heart ache to just think about anything happening to Eli, my own heart and soul, or my sweet little niece Aubrey… just cannot breathe through it… I’ve always told J if anything happened to him or kidlet, I wouldn’t live through it….

    I own all of your patterns, One of them twice, even. But I’m heading over now to donate directly.

  47. Cancer is so awful and even more so when a child is involved. My brother -in-law has been living with a brain tumor for over 10 years, which I guess is unusual with the type he has. He’s going through chemo yet again now. I think you are amazing to donate all of these profits to this family! I bought the Nessie pattern and thought it might cheer you up to see the really sweet top I made my little girl. Here’s the link because I can’t seem to get into my Flickr account. http://www.workpraysew.com/2014/02/t-is-for-texture.html I will continue to keep this family in my prayers, and yours too.

  48. Jessica Hooper says

    Hi Jess. I just wanted to thank you for sharing this. I have been reading a little each day and am deeply inspired by the fierce love and the ferocious honesty that Libby has had the courage to share. The world must be a little better for this story touching so many hearts and minds. Thank you.

    • She is so inspiring, even in the midst of her enormous grief…I have so much love and respect for her family.

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