A child has died of terminal brain cancer weeks after celebrating her fifth birthday and inviting the world to send her cards to celebrate.
Delaney Krings, from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was diagnosed in late October with Diffuse Midline Glioma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour.
The little girl received an outpouring of love and support in December when she celebrated her fifth birthday, spreading the story of her battle across the country, while she was hospitalised.
Her family and close ones organised a card drive for the girl, with hundreds of cards and presents sent from all over the world.
Delaney sadly passed on Saturday. Her mum, Heather Witt Krings wrote in a heartbreaking post on social media: "Our Sweet Angel Baby has gained her wings. Pay some kindness forward in her name."'
She told Today.com: "Please know in your heart she's sharing a little bit of her love with you now, too, in the hopes that it helps you find light when it's dark, and find the love when you're sad."
The mum-of-three says the outpouring of love the family has received is symbolic of the love Delaney has left behind.
Delaney's ill health began with a suspected ear infection. Her parents took her to her paediatrician where she was diagnosed with an ear infection and treated.
Once the ear infection were improved, "everything else continued to get weirder", the family says, explaining the girl had symptoms such as a loss of balance. She was taken to hospital and tests followed.
A Facebook page set up to follow Delaney's illness read: "Delaney was then take into surgery just a few short days later. Drain tubes were placed to alleviate pressure caused by a large volume of fluid buildup. She then had surgery to remove a large portion of the mass.
"After weeks in the hospital Delaney was then able to go home. But unfortunately, this week just before Thanksgiving things took a turn.
"This past week Delaney kept fainting from the pain. Doctors found evidence of an infection around where the shunt implants were placed and she was admitted again. If the infection clears in 10 days she can leave Children’s Wisconsin.
"Her prognosis was originally up to 12 weeks, but because of this complication it is now shortened it to six weeks."
