'Angels have to leave a little early': Birthday cards pour in for 4-year-old Pewaukee girl battling terminal brain cancer

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PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Monday, Nov. 28, support poured in from across the country for a 4-year-old Pewaukee girl battling terminal brain cancer.

"Going from a little over a month ago, having three healthy, bouncing, bubbly kids, to knowing you're going to have to plan a funeral with a tiny coffin and you're going to have to say goodbye to that source of joy and light and love that you only had a short time," said Heather Witt-Krings of Pewaukee, mother of Delaney Krings.

The terminal diagnosis of the 4-year-old was given late October of 2022.

"We could be looking at six weeks, we could be looking at eight weeks, but likely not much more than that, because of the type of tumor," said Heather Krings.

Monday, Delaney's family: mom, brother and sister, sat in their living room and told stories about the one they call the boss, Delaney.

"She is so loving and caring, and she is just the best sister I could ever ask for," said Carson, Delaney's 10-year-old brother.

"If she decides that, maybe, she ran out of her favorite snack, which for the record, is cheese puffs, she would (Krings snaps in the air), and we would have to get her cheese puffs," said Krings.

And while the family shared memories, Delaney was being watched over by her dad, Jack Krings, at Children's Hospital Wisconsin.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Delaney was re-admitted to Children's Wisconsin because of an infection, but despite the infection her family said they will always remember her smile.

"The smile and just -- she was such a happy kid all the time, just all the time running, couldn’t wait to see ya and see her brother and sister," said Jack Krings, Delaney's dad.

Delaney was affectionally called a daddy's girl.

While the Krings grappled with the unthinkable, their community thought of ways to help them with their new reality.

"It's her fifth birthday on Dec. 16, so what a better way than putting a little sunshine back in her life than sending her birthday cards," said Sharon Tomlinson of Shorewest Realtors.

Tomlinson is the real estate agent who sold the Krings their home back in 2017.

Tomlinson is on a mission to get as many birthday cards as possible to Delaney before her fifth birthday.

"I wanted to make this birthday as memorable as possible, but plus, I wanted the family to focus on something other than the illness they are dealing with, the tragedy that they are dealing with," said Tomlinson.

As for Delaney, she rested with her favorite "Frozen" blanket, waiting for her big birthday party on Dec.16. 

"She was put on this earth for a reason, she's been an angel to so many, and sometimes angels have to leave a little early," said Tomlinson.

Birthday cards can be sent addressed to: Delaney Krings C/O Shorewest Realtors, 1296 Summit Ave. Oconomowoc, WI 53066.

The family also has a GoFundMe set up. You can find it by clicking here.

For updates on Delaney, you can visit the CaringBridge website.

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