Read personal stories from our founder and Jennifer's mommy, Libby, along with other Warrior Moms and news from our Unravel team.

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Knowledge

December 26, 2013

This morning I woke up feeling clean. The fears of last night subsided and I feel compelled to write. To say how grateful we are to be waking up with our children.

So many parents that lose children don’t get the knowledge we have been gifted.

Knowledge that the day she was diagnosed was also likely her last birthday…we did it right.

Most likely our last holiday season as our complete family…so we going all in.

And having the time to say what we need to say, prepare the best we can and give her as many life experiences as possible.

With gratitude in my heart for all of you reading and sharing this experience with us. What I failed to say last night…

Merry Christmas and thank you!

  1. Kathleen McCullough says:

    You are doing a beautiful, gracious job. I thought of you as I went to bed last night, after the Christmas energy had died down. I said a prayer for you guys that this Christmas would stand in your memory as magical and wonderful, a little treat for your heart. Merry Christmas, Libby.

  2. Marianne Walters says:

    I thought of you many times yesterday. You are such an incredible mom and your family is fortunate to have such a pillar of strength leading them. Merry Christmas to all of you.

  3. Lynn says:

    Merry Christmas to all of you Libby!! We love you all dearly and cannot thank you enough for sharing every moment or picture you can with all of us… Said many prayers yesterday – mostly that this is not the last Christmas and some how Jennifer is able to find that miracle but if not she at least continue to be so blessed with you as her Mother, Tony as her Father, Nicholas and Jonathan as her brothers, Charlotte as her sister and all the extra loving family she has been so blessed to have!! God bless you sweet heart!! <> from a far!!!!

  4. Judy Lomas says:

    AND, it goes without saying that EVERYONE is wishing the entire Kranz/Sharrenberg family a magical Christmas and a 2014 that will bring you all peace! Sending love, prayers and many blessings to all of you!

  5. Dara says:

    You and Tony are doing a great job. You’re strength through all this keeps your family strong, as well as, extended family and friends. You amaze me everyday that I read your posts. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you all a happy holiday season. Enjoy each day, remember to smile and make lasting memories. Love and hugs to you all.

  6. Karen Zoucha says:

    I too thought of you and your family yesterday and said prayers for you… again you do not know me… I do not “know” you, but you have impacted me and the way I think, parent, etc. You have changed me to stare into my children’s eyes, to stare at them in the “moment” trying so hard to make a mental picture to remember, receive, and listen to the blessings around me. Your story is a reminder to me that all of this could be taken away from me in the blink of an eye, it could all change and come crashing down so quickly… you just never know. Even though I know that it will be very difficult to go on without her, I pray that her spirit will live on through all of you and that God will give you the strength and courage to continue to parent your other 3 the same way you are parenting RIGHT now the 4 of them…. living life to the fullest, doing things now instead of “later”, and filling them up with your love and the love that their sister has for them. Even though the odds are against her, I still pray and have hope for that precious miracle. I pray she is the one to beat these odds! May God Bless all of you… Merry Christmas.

  7. Karen Zoucha says:

    One more thing… just saw this quote and thought of you.

    “Sometimes the things we can’t change…

    end up changing us.”

  8. Kathy Parara says:

    Your journaling is beautiful. Somehow, my friends, Kim and Kevin Delaney, are related to your husband, which is how I found you and I’m so glad that I did. Having battled breast cancer for the past two years after a twenty-seven year career as a teacher and school administrator (I hired Kim : ), I will tell you two things:
    1. There is no cancer worse than childhood cancer, bar none.
    2. Cancer gives you the GIFT of letting people know how you feel about them before they pass. We are all going to die, but how many of us can let the ill person know how we feel about them with no holds barred, no doubt, no regret, no guilt-only joy and pure and unadulterated love and gratitude for their being? And the ill person knows just how loved they are by so many and can pass in complete peace and love. A car accident, heart attack, or any sudden death does not allow us this gift, as you so eloquently say. And THAT is the only one gift that I have found with cancer, another being that there are many, many good, kind, loving people in the world-many being complete strangers. I found myself on prayer circles at churches and synagogues of people I did not even know. One more, and this is a cliche, but oh so true-what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and I am certain that part of your healing will be to help others. I have learned that having gone through the experience makes a person a blessed one who has walked in the moccasins so can help others in ways that the average person is unable to do. Your journaling and photos are stunning and Jennifer is so lucky to have you as her mama. G-d bless you. I’m not sure what I can do to help you, but feel free to contact me at kathyparara@gmail.com. And to save the mamas out there, please like my FB page Know Your Own Breast Density.

  9. Patty Brown says:

    Go ahead and vent when you’re upset…you’re more than entitled. Know that your family is in my prayers. I am from Bakersfield and your family reminds me so much of my own. The sports, coaching, large extended family, football, and, sadly, childhood cancer. I teach fourth grade at a Catholic school here and we will add Jennifer to our prayer list. God bless you.

  10. Rose says:

    I’m so sorry for what you and your family are going through. I wish I had known of Jennifer’s journey sooner. I know of a little boy who was diagnosed with the same illness exactly 3 years ago today when he was only 4 years old. He just turned 7 in September. Please feel free to visit his web page. You are such a courageous and strong person, being the best possible mom to Jennifer and your three younger children. Considering the changes you are having to deal with and the changes that have yet to come, I think you are doing phenomenally well. Blessings to you and and your family, Libby. I will keep Jennifer in my prayers.

  11. Bridget Dolfi says:

    You are in my heart every day and you were all on my mind this Christmas. You continue to be a huge inspiration and I continue to pray for your entire family every day. I hope every day you have as a family together is as blessed as it can be.

  12. cara mccoy says:

    PRAYING for you and your precious family!!!

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