posted on 
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that our Cole passed away last night.
I wish I had the words to accurately describe how fantastic, how amazing, of a little boy Cole was. From his white blond hair to his impish grin he could make you laugh at even the most mischievous deeds. He could play “farm” for hours, meticulously combining every inch of his carpet or sand fields. He loved Nerf wars, toy trucks and dirt piles as only a little boy can. His smile touched the furthest corners of his face and his laughter was infectious.
It’s difficult to fathom that the overwhelming anger and sadness will ever subside but I know, somewhere in the corners of my head, that eventually the pain will lessen. Right now we will hang on to each other and the knowledge that he is no longer suffering.
I learned from a very good friend that even though a person is gone they don’t ever have to be forgotten. We will keep Cole a part of our hearts and minds forever, taking him with us everyday.
Neither my family or I will ever forget the kindness you have shown us over that past two weeks. Even today, Cole is still receiving cards and letters in the mail. Each and everyone has been read and appreciated more than I can tell you. Over 2,500 cards from at least 5 countries and over 2,000 emails. Sometimes the internet is just amazing.
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For those of you who are interested, Cole’s parents have set up a memorial fund and all money received will be donated to The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital Child Life Program and The University of Iowa Dance Marathon. The staff and volunteers there took such good care of him while he was there.
As before anything can be sent to the address below.
Cole Dieckman
PO Box 9
Joy, IL 61260
Thank you, truly, all of you, from the bottom of my heart.
AmazingGreis
said:My thoughts and lots of love goes out to you and the entire family.
I’m here if you need ANYTHING!
XoXO
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:17 pmender
said:I’m so sorry.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:18 pmAvasmommy
said:Oh Jen I am so so very sorry. Sending you and Cole’s parents love and hugs. Am here if you need anything my friend. xoxoxo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:20 pmKatie @OverflowingBrain
said:Oh Jen. I don’t have the right words, but know that I’m holding your whole family close in my heart and hoping that they too can find peace. We’re always here when you need us.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:21 pmAudrey
said:So, so sorry for your family’s loss. My heart is heavy for all of you.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:22 pmAngie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]
said:I’m so very sorry.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:24 pmpgoodness
said:I’m so sorry. What a special boy you’ve introduced us to. Thank you for sharing him.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:25 pmKaren Chatters
said:Jen, I’m so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family at this sad time.
Hugs
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:29 pmMomo Fali
said:Tears and wishes for peace for all of you. I wish I could offer more.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:30 pmPrincessJenn
said:I’m so sorry. My heart is breaking for your family. xoxo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:31 pmmonica peapod
said:sending prayers for comfort to all those who loved cole. i know your hearts are breaking. fall into the healing arms of the one who created that sweet boy.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:34 pmburghbaby
said:I’m so sorry. My thoughts are with everyone whose life was better for having known Cole.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:36 pmMeghan
said:Oh, Jen. My heart breaks for all of you.
He will not be forgotten. By any of us.
xoxo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:37 pmamanda
said:So, so sorry. There are no words. Sending all the positivity I can from here in CT. With love, amanda
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:42 pmAmanda
said:Oh, I am just so sorry. This world doesn’t make sense. Thank you for opening a window that allowed us to send love in the way that we could in his last days.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:43 pmLesley @Avalea
said:I am so sorry for you and your family. He runs free now, love. Barefoot on the best farm of all. Hugs to you.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:45 pmNanette
said:I’m so sorry, Jen. My condolences to all of you.
xoxo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:47 pmLoukia
said:I am so sorry, so sad, so heartbroken. Every day my heart bleeds for children who are taken too soon. He was a beautiful boy. Huge, massive hugs, and love, and prayers, to you all.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:50 pmMommabird2345
said:I’m so sorry. My thoughts are with all of you.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:53 pmDanielle Smith
said:Oh my friend….my heart. I’m so sorry. So much love to you, to Cole, to his family. Great big hugs. xoxoxo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:53 pmMomma Lioness Michele
said:I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Cole and his family are in my heart and thoughts. I will always remember the little boy who shared his birthday with my son Drake and was the same age as my son Luke. I hope your memories bring you some small measure of comfort. My heart especially aches for Cole’s big brother – the picture above is stunningly beautiful. Thinking of you and your family.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:56 pmErin
said:Cole has touched the lives of many people. Though I never met him, I hold him dear in my heart as do many others. Thoughts and prayers go out to your family. I hope you can hold on to the memories of happiness and joy he brought into your lives.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 8:57 pmMarie
said:I am so very sorry.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:04 pmJill
said:So sorry … so very very sorry…
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:07 pmFadra
said:My gut wrenches for you. I’m so sorry for the loss. So sorry that this kind of unfairness has to exist in this world. Thank you for sharing the life that will never be forgotten, especially as I look at my own blond haired little boy who turns 5 next week.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:08 pmJanine
said:it is so hard not to get swallowed up by the anger and sadness when we lose someone so special.
my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:20 pmMimi
said:I was so saddened to hear of Cole’s passing. May God keep you and your family close to him throughout this challenging time. My prayers are with you…God bless.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:20 pmgorillabuns
said:i am so so very sorry.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:31 pmAntiope
said:I am so so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you and your family. I don’t know what else I can say.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:43 pmJess
said:I’m so sorry. Words just don’t do it justice, what I want to say, for that beautiful boy.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:46 pmAmy- Hamlet's Mistress
said:Crying real tears for a boy I never met but sent a e-card to 10 days ago. So so very sad. Will keep you all in my prayers.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:47 pmJana
said:I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep your family in my prayers.
I pray Cole is in a peaceful place and that his smile is shinning.
My deepest sympathies.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:48 pmSam (temptingsam)
said:I’ve been offline for a while, I don’t know what’s happened.
Cole has left you so soon. I am at a loss, Jen. I am so so very sorry.
You and your entire family are in my heart.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 9:55 pmSam (temptingsam)
said:Went back and read about Cole. Words can’t even express how sorry I am. My heart goes out to all. I wish there was something more adequate to say, sorry just doesn’t feel like enough.
xo
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on January 17th, 2012 at 10:00 pmZak
said:I am truly sorry.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 10:01 pmMeredith
said:I am so sad for your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 10:07 pmKim
said:So very sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family for the difficult days to come. He was a beautiful little boy.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 10:20 pmJenbug
said:I am so sorry to hear about your family’s loss. It sounds like Cole was a wonderful little boy.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 10:43 pmMary (Barnmaven)
said:My love and prayers to you and your family. Cole was an amazing little soul and I am so sorry for your terrible loss.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 11:12 pmDebbie B
said:I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you and Cole’s family. What a precious little boy. He will not be forgotten.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 11:16 pmAl_Pal
said:Oh my goodness. So, so sorry for you and your family. May his memory gladden your hearts.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 11:16 pmcindy
said:Heartbreaking…please my thoughts and love to Cole’s family.
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on January 17th, 2012 at 11:49 pmVictoria
said:Hugs & love to you, yours & Angel Cole. Xo
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on January 18th, 2012 at 1:21 amGav
said:So sorry to hear this news Jen.
I’ve written and erased this comment 3 times now. There are no words.
Lots of love,
Gav
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on January 18th, 2012 at 6:18 amTxtingmrdarcy
said:Keeping you and your family in my thoughts… Thank you for letting us feel that we could do something for this wonderful little boy.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 6:44 amLaura, Cate & Maddie
said:My heart is breaking for you. Deepest sympathies from up north.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 7:00 ammel
said:Jen, my heart is aching for your family. Thank you for sharing him. I will always reminder him. Much love and peace to you and your entire family. I’m so sorry.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 8:02 amJennifer Travis
said:I am so sorry to hear of Cole’s passing. Please know you are all in my prayers.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 8:37 amRebecca
said:I only found your blog recently because Heather Sphor posted something about sending a card (which I did that day) but it sounds like Cole was an amazing little guy. Lots of love and prayers for you and your whole family.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 9:06 amEditdebs
said:Your family is in my heart and prayers today–and for many days to come. I’m so sorry for your loss.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 12:44 pmTricia (irishsamom)
said:Jen, my heart is broken for his family and for yours. He was a beautiful spirit and touched us all. Thank you for sharing him with us. Wishing you peace and love at this really, really terrible time. xxx
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on January 18th, 2012 at 1:17 pmJulie
said:There are no words. As heaven is rejoicing in Cole’s arrival, you all are grieving your loss. May the Lord’s joy give you peace during this time.
Cole touched so many of us, who never met him and who don’t know you or your family personally. He is a beautiful instrument of all that is good and just…love.
Prayers to you and your family!
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on January 18th, 2012 at 1:21 pmHope Myers
said:Jen~ I am so sorry to hear of Cole’s passing… I would like to thank you for letting us all be a part of his life ,our thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family..May God Bless you all!!!!!!!
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on January 18th, 2012 at 6:17 pmJanine
said:I am so sorry and sad for your family. Sending love from our family to yours. xo
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on January 18th, 2012 at 6:45 pmTricia
said:I was heart broken to read this. He was a beautiful little boy and I’m sending as much love as I can to you all in this sad, sad time. My heart is aching and I wish so very much that Cole was alive and well. Xoxo
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on January 18th, 2012 at 6:50 pmExciting Developments Up in Here | bethsix
said:[...] There is this update. Knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any more fair or made of [...]
on January 19th, 2012 at 4:15 amJaana
said:I didn’t know Cole, but sending him a birthday card made my day and kept him in my thoughts. It was a great idea that you had. My condolences to you and the family. It breaks my heart that this sweet boy had to leave the earth. Prayers of comfort and peace are being sent your way.
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on January 19th, 2012 at 9:39 amJoyce M.
said:I did not know Cole, but feel grateful for the opportunity I had to send him a card, and possibly brighten his day for just a moment. My heart is aching for you and your family, and for a sweet little boy who was taken too soon. Deepest condolences.
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on January 19th, 2012 at 10:55 amedenland
said:Jen I am holding you and Cole’s family up in my heart, for a long time to come.
Words can’t express.
Love, love, love to you. Love never dies. It can’t.
XXXXXXXX
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on January 20th, 2012 at 4:25 amJen D.
said:Warmth and love to you and yours. You will all be in my thoughts.
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on January 20th, 2012 at 8:59 amJessica
said:I am so sorry to hear about Cole. I sent a birthday card that I believe would have arrived on his birthday. I happened to be scrolling through my timeline and saw my share of your page. I clicked on it to see if there had been any updates and I am just so sorry to hear this news. 4 years ago today I lost my father unexpectedly and it gives me comfort to know they are together in a place with no pain. Sometimes life just does not make sense but I believe one day it will all come together when it is our turn to pass on from this world. I believe God has created each one of us with great purpose and intent. He wanted to make sure Cole and your family knew the vastness of His love before Cole departed this world. God so loves each of us and is holding us close to His heart. So many are praying for your family now and want you to know how much you are treasured and thought of. God is great and to God be the Glory.
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on January 20th, 2012 at 2:31 pmJennyTalia.com » Blog Archive » birthday boy
said:[...] – Cole passed away January 16th. But not before receiving thousands of birthday wishes from all over t… RIP Beautiful boy [...]
on January 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 amAnna@DirectionsNotIncluded
said:This is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry to hear that Cole passed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
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on January 25th, 2012 at 11:14 pmTogether a Team « Kaiser Mommy
said:[...] cancer is taking a wrecking ball to the hearts of people dear to me. I watched, paralyzed, as Jen said goodbye to Cole. I raged as my friend Dorothy lost her friend Marcia. After a week of wrestling with it, I can only [...]
on January 29th, 2012 at 10:10 pmJenelle
said:I’m so, so sorry to hear this. This beautiful boy touched so many hearts. My thoughts with all of you.
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on January 30th, 2012 at 12:16 amMJ
said:I am so sorry for your loss. He is a beautiful little boy.
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on January 30th, 2012 at 11:17 amKatie
said:<3 So sorry to hear.
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on January 30th, 2012 at 12:29 pmPattie
said:I’m so, so sorry for your loss. I found out about Cole via The Spohrs Are Multiplying.
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
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on January 30th, 2012 at 3:35 pmSunday Stilwell
said:I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Godspeed sweet Cole.
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on January 30th, 2012 at 4:42 pmCrystal Z
said:I’m so, so sorry.
I’ve never met this little boy, but his story is sooo familiar to me….and that is absolutely heartbreaking. I lost a cousin to this disease, and he was also cared for by the wonderful people at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, and he also passed away just a few days after his birthday.
As my husband and I sent our tiny little card to Cole, we were contemplating ways we could help more…anything we could do to help make Cole and his family’s life a little easier. Please let us know if there is ANYTHING they need.
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on February 2nd, 2012 at 9:02 amRareDiamondGem
said:I am floored.
Just wrote for an update link, sorry Jen to bother you now that I found it myself.
Very sad to hear the news, my heart will be heavy all day with thoughts and prayers to the whole family.
Lord gives and the Lord takes away. One day we will all be in heaven in brand new bodies..with no more tears as sadness will not exist.
God bless your broken hearts.
(
Our love to you all x
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on February 2nd, 2012 at 11:30 amCassie
said:I am so very, deeply sorry for your loss. As a mother of three young children, I can’t even imagine what you or your family must be feeling right now.
It’s plainly unfair.
Sending love from Pittsburgh.
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on February 8th, 2012 at 9:46 am