This is a tough week for us. Freya was supposed to turn six on March 12th. In fact, 2026 was supposed to be our year, and her “wins” were going to be at the center of it. She was going to have her first full year in school without frequent absences from cancer treatment. She was going to finish kindergarten. We were going to have the courage and assurance that we could be a part of the world again. She was going to ring the bell on December 2nd. Comparing where we are to the promise that this year held has been, frankly, daunting. We all know nothing is promised, but we were always confident that Freya would be here. The hope and drive towards beating cancer was a goal that helped us get through the toughest days. Now, we’re trying to find that toughness again, so that we can make the awfulness of Freya’s loss mean something. We saw early on that we needed a purpose to center around. That got us thinking about legacy, and finding ways to bring joy.
We were all so inspired by Freya’s strength and courage, and James and I continue to think deeply about how we will continue to carry Freya’s light forward. We agreed that we should try to make a lasting impact in our community, and for other children like Freya. These past few weeks, with her birthday coming into focus, we felt like we wanted to start something important and meaningful to help people remember her. Besides home and the hospital, Freya spent so much time with her school family at Serena Hills, and that felt like a great place to build something lasting in her name. With their partnership, our first memorial fundraiser for Freya will be to create a beautiful space in the school courtyard in honor of our cherished girl. We’re eager to begin bringing this vision to life, and will share more as we’re developing it.
We were also blessed to have an amazing community surround us at Flossmoor Hills in their pre-k program, and at Stepping Stones daycare, where Freya started at 12 weeks old. This fundraiser will also provide new all-weather, kid-sized outdoor furniture for their outdoor preschool playgrounds. Both of those communities became important parts of our family, and we want to give back to these dedicated groups of individuals. They are making a difference in children’s lives every day, and we want to help.
Our hope is that this fundraiser will create welcoming, inclusive outdoor spaces where children can learn, connect, explore, and play. We want this space to be a living, breathing place filled with laughter and light. Every donation to this effort will help us bring this vision to life, from garden beds to an artistic mural, all designed to bring a little bit of Freya’s spark to the gathering space. Whether you give $10 or $100, your donation will help us plant something lasting in our community. If you would like to learn more, or donate, you can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/FreyaMemorialProjects.
We want to thank you all so earnestly for continuing to carry Freya’s spirit forward with us. Her ability to draw us all to her so effortlessly is a testament to what we want to continue to build. Freya brought people together in her five powerful years of life. She taught us about how scary childhood cancer is, but also that kindness and showing up for one another can help us do hard things. She taught us how important inclusion is, and how we are a stronger and better community when we support each other and love loudly. Her story didn’t end with her passing, and what she gave us all is so much more than what I could write about her. We want you to know that we will keep sharing her light, and continue finding ways to do meaningful work in our community. There’s so much love, acceptance, and purpose to be had in this one life, and we aren’t going to waste it.
For those in need of a musical muse, this song has felt right this week.
We love you all. Just keep swimming.
-James, Melissa, Winnie and Miles
Freya Everly 
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