When Gilroyan Jennifer Lynn Kranz, or “JLK,” was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma on her birthday, doctors gave her only nine months to live.
She passed away sooner than that, just 3.5 months later at the age of 6.
Now, the Gilroy community is rallying to support the family by hosting a dinner March 16 at the Milias Restaurant on Monterey Road. Proceeds from the dinner will help the family pay for medical bills and give JLK’s father, Tony Kranz, the ability to take some more time off work to be with his family now that they are five instead of six.
“I knew she would take a piece of me. I just didn’t think it would be so much of me,” wrote JLK’s mother, Libby Kranz, in a Tuesday morning blog post. “I really feel like there is none of me left. Just a shell… going through the motions… of life.”
Tickets cost $45 a person, and Milias will donate 80 percent of every ticket sold to the Kranz family, according to event organizer Jennifer Guajardo. As of Tuesday afternoon, 74 of the available 124 tickets had been sold.
Since JLK was diagnosed with cancer on Oct. 28, 2013, Gilroyans have rallied behind the family, making JLK Grand Marshall of the city’s December holiday parade, supporting the family with donations and grieving with them through various forms of social media including Instagram and Facebook.
Libby’s blog, www.loveforjlk.org struck a cord with the community with honest, raw writing detailing the highs and lows of caring for a dying child.
“Writing to you from Washington State,” wrote Karen L, in a comment below one of Libby’s recent blog posts. “I didn’t know your daughter, but I want you to know she has touched my life through all you have shared. My words seem empty and don’t mean much, but know I will pray for you and your family.”
When JLK passed away Feb. 12, shop owners at some of her favorite Gilroy stores, including YoghArt and Patti’s Perfect Pantry & Tea Cafe, lit candles in her memory. Friends of the Kranz family did the same, posting their photos on Facebook and Instagram.
When the Kranz family held a public celebration of JLK’s life at the Valley Christian High school in San Jose last Friday, about 1,000 people poured in to remember a special little girl while standing in solidarity with her family.
“It’s kind of like you feel that you know them from everything that she writes,” said Guajardo, who was inspired to set up the dinner fundraiser at Milias after reading Libby’s blog.
While Guajardo never met JLK, she found Libby’s blog through mutual Facebook friends. Guajardo helped connect the Kranz family with her mother, Ann Zyburra, who co-owns the Milias Restaurant along with Adam Sanchez.
“As a community we wanted to show our support,” Guajardo said.
The restaurant will be hosting an evening of appetizers, a full dinner and a sweets table donated by Snickerdoodle Sweets and Events. Former Milias Restaurant pastry chef Lina Perez – whose own son survived a bout with leukemia – will also be making pastries to share with the crowd.
The Kranz family has also established a research fund in JLK’s name, where every dollar donated goes directly towards funding research with JLK’s own tumor cells. For more information, click here.
There will be a silent auction, raffle and dinner held at 5 p.m. March 16 at 7397 Monterey Road in Gilroy. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the restaurant or at Amoretto Boutique at 7490 Monterey Road. To purchase tickets online, send the funds to
je*********@ya***.com
through PayPal and reference the JLK fundraiser.
