Lily's Legacy Memorial Chapel
Goal:
USD $175,000
Raised:
USD $84,534
Campaign funds will be received by Alexander Braszko
Lily's Legacy Memorial Chapel
“Lily’s Legacy Memorial Chapel”
We thank Mark and Christine for so beautifully conveying below our desire to commemorate Lily by building a memorial chapel in her name, here in northwest Missouri, that will, God-willing, serve our family in honoring Lily, serve our brothers and sisters in Christ and most importantly, honor our God. Thank you for any contribution you are able to make… We are fully committed to making this a reality and your help truly means a lot to all of us in the Braszko family! May it be blessed.
Testimony from Family Friends, Mark & Christine Drechsler
As all of the Braszko’s friends and family have witnessed Lily’s story unfold, our hearts break a little more every day, but this endeavor brings hope and light to this heart wrenching situation.
Lily's Legacy represents the Brazko family's dream to commemorate the short but full life of their beautiful and sweet 18 year old daughter, Lillian Grace Braszko. All funds raised will be used to build a small but stunning chapel in her memory. May it serve as a reminder to all of the importance of standing firm in faith and love for the Lord, amidst all of life's circumstances.
Background
Lily is a talented, amazing, sweet and kindhearted 18 year old who has courageously fought an excruciatingly painful and difficult battle with osteosarcoma over the past two years. Her journey initially started with cancer in her knee.
She endured numerous surgeries and treatments, but unexpected complications arose, including compartment syndrome, and over half a dozen subsequently painful surgeries transpired, all of which ultimately resulted in amputation of Lily’s right leg above the knee. Lily embraced each new challenge with the courage and determination of someone more than twice her age. Her fortitude continues to inspire all of us as we watch her learn to navigate with one leg and valiantly work through all the emotions and mobility challenges of a teenage amputee.
As if amputation weren't enough, the unthinkable happened at a recent scan, where we learned that the cancer has metastasized to her lungs where it is growing rapidly. Over 50% of Lily's lungs are full of cancer now, and she has been given only a short time left to live. While grappling with this harsh reality, the family is striving to savor their last moments together with Lily with joy, the love of Christ, and hope in the Lord.
Now that the osteosarcoma has metastasized to her lungs, Lily’s Dad has decided it's time to launch this project while Lily is still able to be a part of it. Lily wholeheartedly supports this memorial chapel, and has enthusiastically provided design preferences for how she would like the chapel to look.
What Can You Do to Help?
You can help us shower Lily with love by contributing funds to support Lily’s Memorial Chapel. This young girl is fearlessly facing her future with courage and love. We want her heart to be full, and to be showered with overwhelming encouragement. If you are able to offer a memorial gift now, in lieu of flowers, Lily will be able to see and know how much she is loved & supported in her final days. Please don’t wait until after her passing. Her family humbly requests your contributions toward this effort now, to make the most impact for her personally. Even if you don't know our Lily well, we pray you are inspired and will understand why this memorial is so important for Lily and her family.
We gratefully and humbly seek your prayers and hope that this community will rally to support Lily, so she can personally witness your selfless generosity and know that the world is still filled with many faithful and loving souls that care.
Lily’s Legacy Memorial Chapel
The chapel will be tall, with white walls and a blue metal roof/dome. It will be built in a traditional, ancient Christian style with a memorial dedicated to Lily inside. Our fundraising goal was established based on bids we received from a local builder for a 625 square foot unfinished building, (approximately 25 ft x 25 ft) and bids on finishing the inside. The family is contributing a sizable portion of their savings toward finishing the interior.
The chapel will provide a place of peace and solitude for family and friends to offer prayers of gratitude to God, and to remember the many blessings experienced with Lily in our lives.
The family chose GiveSendGo because it is a Christian crowdfunding site. They appreciate and thank you for your prayers and support as they face Lily’s last days. We know God hears all our prayers.
Glory to God for all things!
Recent Donations
May the Lord God remember her in his heavenly kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages! Memory Eternal!
May Lily's memory be eternal and may the peace of our Lord and Savior be with your family during this time. We are so excited to one day see how this stunning chapel turns out.
May her memory be eternal. May the Lord be with you.
May her memory be eternal and may our Lord comfort your family.
For the suffering martyr God grant her rest with the Saints, and may we have her prayers! Glory to the Holy Triune God for all things! Asking your prayers, John (Orthodox), Chloe (non-Orthodox).
May her memory be eternal!
Glory to Jesus Christ
Love and prayers from your '97 classmate
Aloha and God bless from your friends in Honolulu.
Also praying for you and your family.
Updates
Latest Update
April 2nd, 2025
Dear Family, Friends and Supporters of Lily's Campaign,
It is with deep sadness that we announce the repose of our sweet and beautiful daughter, Lily. Yet, it is also with great joy and peace that we can say she is now pain-free and with our Lord in Heaven! After an almost two-year-long struggle, having endured unimaginable pain, Lily went home to Heaven this past Friday. Her funeral was held Monday morning with 275+ in attendance. She had a natural death and burial, and she looked so peaceful and beautiful as she lay in rest in our church. We've explained to our children that while she is in Heaven, Lily is still, and always will be, a part of our family. We look forward to the day when she welcomes us into Heaven.
Our family would like to take this opportunity to thank the over 300 contributors to Lily's campaign. God Bless You All for your kind words, well wishes, prayers, and financial contributions! Members of our parish, brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world, and even Alex's West Point classmates, all contributed generously.
We've currently reached almost 45% of our goal, which is amazing to all of us! Lily found your responses, messages, and contributions incredibly inspiring and encouraging as well... However, we still have a ways to go before we reach our final goal of $175,000.
And so, we ask, in humility, to please consider helping us spread the word even broader, by resending our initiative to your network via email and on social media. Please let your family, friends, and networks know that we are almost halfway to meeting our goal in this campaign. Any donation, no matter how small, matters and is greatly appreciated. Your prayers continue to sustain us in our grief, and your support will help us make Lily's dream of building a chapel in her memory a reality.
Thank you all so much for getting us to this point. With God, all things are possible. We truly believe that this is a blessed effort and your help makes all the difference. God Bless you All.
Alex, Jessie, and family
Update #1
March 14th, 2025
Dear family, old friends, new friends, and kind hearted individuals bringing life to Lily's Legacy... thank you so very, very much for your donations, kind words, and prayers! Words can't begin to express how overwhelmed we are with the kindness and generosity you have shown us through this campaign. I do read each and ever message posted to Lily when she's awake, and it does bring joy to her day. So thank you, so very much again.
We are just over a week into this campaign, with over 180 donations reaching about 27% of our goal! We are amazed at how quickly things are proceeding. FYI, we have found a local/midwest architect and a master church architect to help guide us in creating this chapel to commemorate Lily, to serve as a place where we can pray to our Lord God and worship and glorify Him. We're also considering three sites on which to build the chapel. We will try to keep you abreast as best we can as we make progress on these decisions.
We do have another favor to ask, if you don't mind: if you have not already shared this campaign on your social media platforms, please do. Feel free to add the address for this campaign to your social media postings so we can reach as many people as possible.
Also, if you are wanting to provide a large donation to this campaign, but require a tax deduction, we've found a way we think we can make that possible. Please reach out to us via the email option on this site and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Once again, thank you so much for all you've done and continue to do for this campaign. God bless you all, we'll try to post again next week.
Prayer Requests
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