Age 13. Cancer head and neck.
Parents Michael & Susan, brother Brian 10.
She was diagnosed about October 1984 with Rabdomyo Sarcoma, a fast growing aggressive cancer of the muscles found in her neck and head.
In August 1986 despite 10 1/2 hours of major brain surgery to stop the growth of a tumor at the base of her brain, 11 days before, she was determined to compete, having practiced daily for months in between treatments and disappeared only to be found on the 12th floor of the hospital in an empty room practicing her Kata dance like routine. Doctors had ruled out the trip but her determination to check herself out changed their minds and agreed to release her from the hospital just 24 hours before her time on the mat, to fly with her team to compete in the National Karate Championships in Atlanta. Though eligible, the 2 previous years she was too ill.
At 2 PM karate students formed a "V" around her and escorted her through the crowds from her hotel room to the floor. She walked onto the mat, still running a fever, with her neck bandaged, mouth wired shut, feeding and drainage tubes in her throat and nose, performing her best routine with absolute precision and came within 4/10 of a point of the gold medal where judges noted her good balance, focus and composure. She received thunderous applause from the crowd of 2000 as the students again formed a protective barrier around her and she received the bronze medal. (She didn't tell her teachers that the doctors warned that, although the Kata routine, similar to a dance routine of increasing difficulty through the belt levels is a solo non contact competition, if she got bumped she could bleed out.)
It was said that her dream was to go to Nationals and she reached her goal in just 13 years, despite the cancer. She said had she felt better there was no doubt she would have won the gold. The next day she was performing her routine in the hallway for a hospital audience and making plans for the next year, to compete in the Kumite division where two partners spar together in fast paced, non contact sport judged on performance of the various kicks and punches and how close they come to contact, receiving points when executed with perfect control.
The national attention sparked benefits by karate people across the country, community fundraisers and businesses as well as letters of good wishes from many. Jennifer's Kick Against Cancer brought thousands to a fundraiser at Schaumburg High School. Chuck Norris was co chairman of the event, his karate federation in California holding a benefit.
Jennifer had lost her grandmother a year and a half before and an uncle more recently when she told her mom that God takes the good angels first.
She practiced in several park district class locations throughout her illness, becoming an inspiration for all her fellow karate club members to do their best. She said she wanted to show them no matter what is wrong with you you could still have fun and keep trying. Through operations, infections, radiation and chemotherapy, she earned 7 belt colors during her fight with cancer.
In September 1986 she left NW Memorial on Friday and won her brown belt on Saturday after 4 months in the hospital. She had 20 surgeries in 7 hospitals across the country in the two years and went back after winning her belt on Saturday to prepare for more surgery. Thin and pale she confidently went through her routine with two dozen other youngsters in front of a crowd of students, parents, news cameras and other fans. She psyched herself up for concentration, discipline and balance to show her best. Her club gave her a plaque in recognition of the struggle she has had. She said she was a little tired but real real happy afterwards. She liked karate because you excel by yourself on a one by one basis.
By January 1987 she underwent another surgery to reduce a tumor growing at the back of her throat which impeded breathing, eating & talking. She was released a short time and was readmitted to Wyler Children's at U of Chicago at the end of January and again in early February for a series of 4 day chemo/radiation treatments to stop the tumor growth. As bills mounted to over $50,000 after insurance, friends and family and the karate club raised funds to help pay for her treatments, students going door to door $1 at a time.
While winning her battle, according to her doctors, she succumbed to a pneumonia due to her weakened immune system at 9:30 AM Tuesday morning. Those watching her struggle and beat the odds, expecting her to come through okay, were devastated and in shock.
During her illness she received letters and donations from across the country, including letters from other children with cancer. The actor Chuck Norris sent her one of his headbands worn in a movie. Hulk Hogan sent a head scarf and invited them to come out and meet him, which they did and he was so nice to them, they said. There were many others with notes of encouragement.
It was said she always had an optimistic attitude that she would overcome this obstacle. Even at the end, she had a few tears of pain, but always a smile. Then she broke into a big grin and they felt she saw her much loved grandmother come to meet her. They sprayed a lot of her grandmother's perfume into her coffin as it was her favorite, along with a favorite blanket.
Six black belt instructors, wearing their white uniforms, acted as pallbearers. The priest who knew the family and came back to assist at her funeral, noting that Karate meant "empty hands," said Jennifer's hands seemed empty, but with what she did with her short life, her hands were quite full and her "empty hands" touched many other people. She had a drive to win in competition and in life. She was able to be strong and attack problems and challenges of sickness and pain and do so with equanimity and peace and joy, while smiling. We can't say enough about her super human effort and sweet up beat manner, having observed her in class and competitions.
Visitation 2-9 PM Saturday and 4-9 PM Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights.
Mass at 10 AM Monday at Our Lady of the wayside Church at 432 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights. Burial in All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Des Plaines.
Parents Michael & Susan, brother Brian 10.
She was diagnosed about October 1984 with Rabdomyo Sarcoma, a fast growing aggressive cancer of the muscles found in her neck and head.
In August 1986 despite 10 1/2 hours of major brain surgery to stop the growth of a tumor at the base of her brain, 11 days before, she was determined to compete, having practiced daily for months in between treatments and disappeared only to be found on the 12th floor of the hospital in an empty room practicing her Kata dance like routine. Doctors had ruled out the trip but her determination to check herself out changed their minds and agreed to release her from the hospital just 24 hours before her time on the mat, to fly with her team to compete in the National Karate Championships in Atlanta. Though eligible, the 2 previous years she was too ill.
At 2 PM karate students formed a "V" around her and escorted her through the crowds from her hotel room to the floor. She walked onto the mat, still running a fever, with her neck bandaged, mouth wired shut, feeding and drainage tubes in her throat and nose, performing her best routine with absolute precision and came within 4/10 of a point of the gold medal where judges noted her good balance, focus and composure. She received thunderous applause from the crowd of 2000 as the students again formed a protective barrier around her and she received the bronze medal. (She didn't tell her teachers that the doctors warned that, although the Kata routine, similar to a dance routine of increasing difficulty through the belt levels is a solo non contact competition, if she got bumped she could bleed out.)
It was said that her dream was to go to Nationals and she reached her goal in just 13 years, despite the cancer. She said had she felt better there was no doubt she would have won the gold. The next day she was performing her routine in the hallway for a hospital audience and making plans for the next year, to compete in the Kumite division where two partners spar together in fast paced, non contact sport judged on performance of the various kicks and punches and how close they come to contact, receiving points when executed with perfect control.
The national attention sparked benefits by karate people across the country, community fundraisers and businesses as well as letters of good wishes from many. Jennifer's Kick Against Cancer brought thousands to a fundraiser at Schaumburg High School. Chuck Norris was co chairman of the event, his karate federation in California holding a benefit.
Jennifer had lost her grandmother a year and a half before and an uncle more recently when she told her mom that God takes the good angels first.
She practiced in several park district class locations throughout her illness, becoming an inspiration for all her fellow karate club members to do their best. She said she wanted to show them no matter what is wrong with you you could still have fun and keep trying. Through operations, infections, radiation and chemotherapy, she earned 7 belt colors during her fight with cancer.
In September 1986 she left NW Memorial on Friday and won her brown belt on Saturday after 4 months in the hospital. She had 20 surgeries in 7 hospitals across the country in the two years and went back after winning her belt on Saturday to prepare for more surgery. Thin and pale she confidently went through her routine with two dozen other youngsters in front of a crowd of students, parents, news cameras and other fans. She psyched herself up for concentration, discipline and balance to show her best. Her club gave her a plaque in recognition of the struggle she has had. She said she was a little tired but real real happy afterwards. She liked karate because you excel by yourself on a one by one basis.
By January 1987 she underwent another surgery to reduce a tumor growing at the back of her throat which impeded breathing, eating & talking. She was released a short time and was readmitted to Wyler Children's at U of Chicago at the end of January and again in early February for a series of 4 day chemo/radiation treatments to stop the tumor growth. As bills mounted to over $50,000 after insurance, friends and family and the karate club raised funds to help pay for her treatments, students going door to door $1 at a time.
While winning her battle, according to her doctors, she succumbed to a pneumonia due to her weakened immune system at 9:30 AM Tuesday morning. Those watching her struggle and beat the odds, expecting her to come through okay, were devastated and in shock.
During her illness she received letters and donations from across the country, including letters from other children with cancer. The actor Chuck Norris sent her one of his headbands worn in a movie. Hulk Hogan sent a head scarf and invited them to come out and meet him, which they did and he was so nice to them, they said. There were many others with notes of encouragement.
It was said she always had an optimistic attitude that she would overcome this obstacle. Even at the end, she had a few tears of pain, but always a smile. Then she broke into a big grin and they felt she saw her much loved grandmother come to meet her. They sprayed a lot of her grandmother's perfume into her coffin as it was her favorite, along with a favorite blanket.
Six black belt instructors, wearing their white uniforms, acted as pallbearers. The priest who knew the family and came back to assist at her funeral, noting that Karate meant "empty hands," said Jennifer's hands seemed empty, but with what she did with her short life, her hands were quite full and her "empty hands" touched many other people. She had a drive to win in competition and in life. She was able to be strong and attack problems and challenges of sickness and pain and do so with equanimity and peace and joy, while smiling. We can't say enough about her super human effort and sweet up beat manner, having observed her in class and competitions.
Visitation 2-9 PM Saturday and 4-9 PM Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights.
Mass at 10 AM Monday at Our Lady of the wayside Church at 432 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights. Burial in All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Des Plaines.
Age 13. Cancer head and neck.
Parents Michael & Susan, brother Brian 10.
She was diagnosed about October 1984 with Rabdomyo Sarcoma, a fast growing aggressive cancer of the muscles found in her neck and head.
In August 1986 despite 10 1/2 hours of major brain surgery to stop the growth of a tumor at the base of her brain, 11 days before, she was determined to compete, having practiced daily for months in between treatments and disappeared only to be found on the 12th floor of the hospital in an empty room practicing her Kata dance like routine. Doctors had ruled out the trip but her determination to check herself out changed their minds and agreed to release her from the hospital just 24 hours before her time on the mat, to fly with her team to compete in the National Karate Championships in Atlanta. Though eligible, the 2 previous years she was too ill.
At 2 PM karate students formed a "V" around her and escorted her through the crowds from her hotel room to the floor. She walked onto the mat, still running a fever, with her neck bandaged, mouth wired shut, feeding and drainage tubes in her throat and nose, performing her best routine with absolute precision and came within 4/10 of a point of the gold medal where judges noted her good balance, focus and composure. She received thunderous applause from the crowd of 2000 as the students again formed a protective barrier around her and she received the bronze medal. (She didn't tell her teachers that the doctors warned that, although the Kata routine, similar to a dance routine of increasing difficulty through the belt levels is a solo non contact competition, if she got bumped she could bleed out.)
It was said that her dream was to go to Nationals and she reached her goal in just 13 years, despite the cancer. She said had she felt better there was no doubt she would have won the gold. The next day she was performing her routine in the hallway for a hospital audience and making plans for the next year, to compete in the Kumite division where two partners spar together in fast paced, non contact sport judged on performance of the various kicks and punches and how close they come to contact, receiving points when executed with perfect control.
The national attention sparked benefits by karate people across the country, community fundraisers and businesses as well as letters of good wishes from many. Jennifer's Kick Against Cancer brought thousands to a fundraiser at Schaumburg High School. Chuck Norris was co chairman of the event, his karate federation in California holding a benefit.
Jennifer had lost her grandmother a year and a half before and an uncle more recently when she told her mom that God takes the good angels first.
She practiced in several park district class locations throughout her illness, becoming an inspiration for all her fellow karate club members to do their best. She said she wanted to show them no matter what is wrong with you you could still have fun and keep trying. Through operations, infections, radiation and chemotherapy, she earned 7 belt colors during her fight with cancer.
In September 1986 she left NW Memorial on Friday and won her brown belt on Saturday after 4 months in the hospital. She had 20 surgeries in 7 hospitals across the country in the two years and went back after winning her belt on Saturday to prepare for more surgery. Thin and pale she confidently went through her routine with two dozen other youngsters in front of a crowd of students, parents, news cameras and other fans. She psyched herself up for concentration, discipline and balance to show her best. Her club gave her a plaque in recognition of the struggle she has had. She said she was a little tired but real real happy afterwards. She liked karate because you excel by yourself on a one by one basis.
By January 1987 she underwent another surgery to reduce a tumor growing at the back of her throat which impeded breathing, eating & talking. She was released a short time and was readmitted to Wyler Children's at U of Chicago at the end of January and again in early February for a series of 4 day chemo/radiation treatments to stop the tumor growth. As bills mounted to over $50,000 after insurance, friends and family and the karate club raised funds to help pay for her treatments, students going door to door $1 at a time.
While winning her battle, according to her doctors, she succumbed to a pneumonia due to her weakened immune system at 9:30 AM Tuesday morning. Those watching her struggle and beat the odds, expecting her to come through okay, were devastated and in shock.
During her illness she received letters and donations from across the country, including letters from other children with cancer. The actor Chuck Norris sent her one of his headbands worn in a movie. Hulk Hogan sent a head scarf and invited them to come out and meet him, which they did and he was so nice to them, they said. There were many others with notes of encouragement.
It was said she always had an optimistic attitude that she would overcome this obstacle. Even at the end, she had a few tears of pain, but always a smile. Then she broke into a big grin and they felt she saw her much loved grandmother come to meet her. They sprayed a lot of her grandmother's perfume into her coffin as it was her favorite, along with a favorite blanket.
Six black belt instructors, wearing their white uniforms, acted as pallbearers. The priest who knew the family and came back to assist at her funeral, noting that Karate meant "empty hands," said Jennifer's hands seemed empty, but with what she did with her short life, her hands were quite full and her "empty hands" touched many other people. She had a drive to win in competition and in life. She was able to be strong and attack problems and challenges of sickness and pain and do so with equanimity and peace and joy, while smiling. We can't say enough about her super human effort and sweet up beat manner, having observed her in class and competitions.
Visitation 2-9 PM Saturday and 4-9 PM Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights.
Mass at 10 AM Monday at Our Lady of the wayside Church at 432 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights. Burial in All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Des Plaines.
Parents Michael & Susan, brother Brian 10.
She was diagnosed about October 1984 with Rabdomyo Sarcoma, a fast growing aggressive cancer of the muscles found in her neck and head.
In August 1986 despite 10 1/2 hours of major brain surgery to stop the growth of a tumor at the base of her brain, 11 days before, she was determined to compete, having practiced daily for months in between treatments and disappeared only to be found on the 12th floor of the hospital in an empty room practicing her Kata dance like routine. Doctors had ruled out the trip but her determination to check herself out changed their minds and agreed to release her from the hospital just 24 hours before her time on the mat, to fly with her team to compete in the National Karate Championships in Atlanta. Though eligible, the 2 previous years she was too ill.
At 2 PM karate students formed a "V" around her and escorted her through the crowds from her hotel room to the floor. She walked onto the mat, still running a fever, with her neck bandaged, mouth wired shut, feeding and drainage tubes in her throat and nose, performing her best routine with absolute precision and came within 4/10 of a point of the gold medal where judges noted her good balance, focus and composure. She received thunderous applause from the crowd of 2000 as the students again formed a protective barrier around her and she received the bronze medal. (She didn't tell her teachers that the doctors warned that, although the Kata routine, similar to a dance routine of increasing difficulty through the belt levels is a solo non contact competition, if she got bumped she could bleed out.)
It was said that her dream was to go to Nationals and she reached her goal in just 13 years, despite the cancer. She said had she felt better there was no doubt she would have won the gold. The next day she was performing her routine in the hallway for a hospital audience and making plans for the next year, to compete in the Kumite division where two partners spar together in fast paced, non contact sport judged on performance of the various kicks and punches and how close they come to contact, receiving points when executed with perfect control.
The national attention sparked benefits by karate people across the country, community fundraisers and businesses as well as letters of good wishes from many. Jennifer's Kick Against Cancer brought thousands to a fundraiser at Schaumburg High School. Chuck Norris was co chairman of the event, his karate federation in California holding a benefit.
Jennifer had lost her grandmother a year and a half before and an uncle more recently when she told her mom that God takes the good angels first.
She practiced in several park district class locations throughout her illness, becoming an inspiration for all her fellow karate club members to do their best. She said she wanted to show them no matter what is wrong with you you could still have fun and keep trying. Through operations, infections, radiation and chemotherapy, she earned 7 belt colors during her fight with cancer.
In September 1986 she left NW Memorial on Friday and won her brown belt on Saturday after 4 months in the hospital. She had 20 surgeries in 7 hospitals across the country in the two years and went back after winning her belt on Saturday to prepare for more surgery. Thin and pale she confidently went through her routine with two dozen other youngsters in front of a crowd of students, parents, news cameras and other fans. She psyched herself up for concentration, discipline and balance to show her best. Her club gave her a plaque in recognition of the struggle she has had. She said she was a little tired but real real happy afterwards. She liked karate because you excel by yourself on a one by one basis.
By January 1987 she underwent another surgery to reduce a tumor growing at the back of her throat which impeded breathing, eating & talking. She was released a short time and was readmitted to Wyler Children's at U of Chicago at the end of January and again in early February for a series of 4 day chemo/radiation treatments to stop the tumor growth. As bills mounted to over $50,000 after insurance, friends and family and the karate club raised funds to help pay for her treatments, students going door to door $1 at a time.
While winning her battle, according to her doctors, she succumbed to a pneumonia due to her weakened immune system at 9:30 AM Tuesday morning. Those watching her struggle and beat the odds, expecting her to come through okay, were devastated and in shock.
During her illness she received letters and donations from across the country, including letters from other children with cancer. The actor Chuck Norris sent her one of his headbands worn in a movie. Hulk Hogan sent a head scarf and invited them to come out and meet him, which they did and he was so nice to them, they said. There were many others with notes of encouragement.
It was said she always had an optimistic attitude that she would overcome this obstacle. Even at the end, she had a few tears of pain, but always a smile. Then she broke into a big grin and they felt she saw her much loved grandmother come to meet her. They sprayed a lot of her grandmother's perfume into her coffin as it was her favorite, along with a favorite blanket.
Six black belt instructors, wearing their white uniforms, acted as pallbearers. The priest who knew the family and came back to assist at her funeral, noting that Karate meant "empty hands," said Jennifer's hands seemed empty, but with what she did with her short life, her hands were quite full and her "empty hands" touched many other people. She had a drive to win in competition and in life. She was able to be strong and attack problems and challenges of sickness and pain and do so with equanimity and peace and joy, while smiling. We can't say enough about her super human effort and sweet up beat manner, having observed her in class and competitions.
Visitation 2-9 PM Saturday and 4-9 PM Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights.
Mass at 10 AM Monday at Our Lady of the wayside Church at 432 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights. Burial in All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Des Plaines.
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