CNN journalist Andrew Kaczynski and Wall Street Journal reporter Rachel Louise Ensign‘s 9-month-old daughter, Francesca “Bean” Kaczynski, lost her fight to cancer on Christmas Eve.
“We’re heartbroken to have to announce our beautiful daughter Francesca passed away last night in the arms of her mom and dad,” tweeted Kaczynski, who detailed Bean’s battle with cancer over the past several months.
“There will always be a Bean-sized hole in our hearts for her. We’re so grateful to have known her love.”
A GoFundMe that was began for “Team Beans” back in September has since raised over $115,000.
The family has since asked that donations be made in Francesca’s honor to a bike-a-thon fundraiser that donates all proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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Kaczynski also tweeted how people can donate blood or platelets at a Boston Children’s Hospital, where Bean was treated with “remarkable love and kindness,” he revealed in a Medium post.
In just nine-months, Bean proved to be an “outgoing, bold and curious baby,” who loved to eat, who was a fan of Elmo and being cuddled in the evening, Kaczynski shared in the heartwrenching piece.
“A Brooklyn-based Sesame Street fan, Francesca enjoyed taking long walks around New York City and Boston, playing with her toys and balloons, attending speech therapy, and ‘petting‘ (i.e. grabbing) her cat Ryland,” he continued.
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“Her many smiles sent a thrill through the world. She was so generous with them, even when most of the smiles back were covered by masks.”
But despite her short life, Bean was able to share so much joy to those around her, including the doctors and nurses who “would gasp with joy when they saw her smile.”
She “showed her parents a kind of love they never knew before and they will never forget” as well as inspired many through Kaczynski’s heartfelt online updates. May her impact be a reminder to hold tighter the ones we love in this season
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