JANE’S STORY
Jane Harrell’s bright spirit continued to lead and love, uplifting others around her, despite being told she would die from DIPG at age 17. With five short months to live from diagnosis to death, Jane faced incomprehensible suffering and fear with faith and courage.
Having self-diagnosed a brain tumor using Google after failed attempts to treat dizziness, vision loss, and frequent falls with iron pills and increased fluids, Jane pleaded with her mom on the way to the MRI scan not to proceed: “You and Dad don’t deserve the pain of a kid with a brain tumor. It’s too much for the family.”
“Jane stood out as a star throughout her life, because she encouraged others to ‘be the best they can be,’ leading by example in all types of circumstances.”
- Mike Harrell
TERMINAL PEDIATRIC CANCER
Choosing not to prolong life with feeding tubes and ventilators, Jane made choices at the end of her life to keep her family together. Her decision to live each moment in the present without complaining united her family and gave them the strength to press on in crisis with bravery and love.
Despite losing the ability to walk, see, or eat, Jane made jokes about enemas, bladder catheterizations, and falls that kept her on the bathroom floor at all hours. She took charge during the low moments and calmly gave orders: “Mom, I need to die in the hospital because it’s too weird and unfair for Piper, Max, and Sam to have a hospital bed in the dining room and watch their sister die. Our house is where kids come to eat popsicles and play games.” Jane’s strength, wisdom, and refusal to feel sorry for herself during a time of dark despair is the spark that planted the seed for Jane’s Fund.
EDUCATION
At age 6, Jane learned that our city has kids who are homeless and don’t have money for school supplies. She was inspired to launch a backpack drive, which grew exponentially from year to year as she reached out to classmates, neighbors and fellow church members for help.
SHINE LIKE JANE
Jane had an innate ability to recognize when someone is lonely, broken or struggling and developed the courage to dive into the darkness and give light. Alone with her parents several hours after being told she was going to die, one of Jane’s initial questions was, “Why me? I thought I was going to grow up and make a difference in the world?”
A few weeks later, Jane answered her own question when writing a senior chapel talk she knew she would not live to share: “I recognize now it is not I who is going to change the world; the job belongs to each of you. You are the light of the world. Shine it. You are the salt of the earth. Use your gifts.”
