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I received an email from my wife with the attached images and story. I do not claim to take credit for images and text. If you know where this story started, I will gladly give credit to the author.

If you haven’t noticed by now, during the football games Ricky Stanzi wears an abundance of bracelets.  There are the usual ones everyone has LiveStrong or Iowa Hawkeyes… But there is one in particular that has stood out and has people talking.  It is the bright pink bracelet he wears.  On the bracelet it says, “Pray for Princess Jenna.”

In January 2009, Jenna was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma Stage IV cancer. They found a large tumor on her liver and also in her lungs.  After going through 4 rounds of chemo, they were able to shrink the tumors in her lungs and help reduce the mass on her liver.  The only way to help Jenna become cancer free was to receive a liver transplant….and on October 1st, 2009, Jenna and her family got the call from Omaha that there was a liver there waiting for her. Since then, Jenna has had a successful transplant and was released to go back home over this past weekend to be with her twin sister and older brother once again.

Ricky Stanzi and the rest of the Iowa Football team are so much more than just football players to not only Jenna but the rest of the kiddos at UIHC.  They are the kids heroes. And in turn, the kids become these guys heroes.  The guys will come up to visit the kids multiple times throughout the week and many personally get to know the kids and their families.  These are some very heart-warming pictures of Jenna with her favorite guys who she cheers for every Saturday…they have all felt the power of pink from Princess Jenna. :)

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*Update #1

Searching for more information on this story online and found some links of interest. Here is the link a website called the Caring Bridge which allows you to connect with people during a serious health event.

Jenna Waters Caring Bridge page:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jennawaters

A “Pray For Princess Jenna” Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45428649242&v=wall

Background Story

On Friday, January 16, 2009 Jenna and Katelyn had their 4 year old check ups. At that appointment Jenna’s pediatrician felt that her liver was enlarged and sent them to Mercy for blood work and a ultrasound of her abdomen. The ultrasound showed a mass growing on Jenna’s liver. Shortly thereafter Jenna was admitted to the University of Iowa hospital.

After being admitted a CT scan was ordered and found in addition to the large tumor on her liver another 4 spots on Jenna’s lungs and one on the other side of her stomach.

On Saturday morning the mass on Jenna’s liver was confirmed to be cancer. Jenna underwent a several hour surgery to biopsy the tumor.  Jenna was then diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma Stage IV cancer.

Jenna has been a very healthly full of life little girl up until now; and she is still is except that she is up for the fight of her life. To date she has done a tremendous job of fighting; she has so far undergone many tests, procedures, hospital stays, 4 rounds of chemo, medication that is not pleasant along with weekly trips to the clinic for a shot of chemo.

We will be learning what are next step is in her journey as of right now almost 3 months since diagnosis she will be undergoing surgery to remove a large portion of her liver to get all the tumor on her liver. Thankfully all her lung tumors are gone or are microscopic; they will explore that during her next surgery. She has fought like a champion and I would always want her in my corner as she the heart and determination as a world class fighter!

Please check back often as I update her story