New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘See through a new lens’
North Haven mom keeps daughter’s legacy alive to help other kids with cancer
NORTH HAVEN — Jennifer Zettergren remembers how important the children’s crafts at Smilow Cancer Hospital were to her daughter Brenna as the child underwent long, uncomfortable cancer treatments 10 years ago.
Brenna died at 5 years old after the cancer came back four times, but her legacy lives on through the “Brenna
Zettergren Memorial Foundation,” which provides craft supplies for young patients to keep them happy and distracted, as well as scholarships.
“With chemo the days are long,” Zettergren, a Durham resident, said. “The crafts get their minds off the pain, discomfort and everything’s that happening.”
Once the children receiving treatment use the crayons, paint and other items, they can’t be reused, so the craft items need frequent replenishing, she said.
Zettergren, a former lawyer who became an English teacher as she re-examined life after Brenna died, shares her entire story openly with students at North Haven High School.
That openness has led to an army of help from students through the years. The school’s National Honor Society, of which Zettergren is co-adviser, once again took on a fundraiser for the cause and raised close to $2,000 by selling bracelets and T-shirts in school and at sporting events that say, “Their fight is our fight.”
“I think when cancer becomes something personal it’s just not a hypothetical impact,” Zettergren said, adding that many people have known someone affected by the disease. “It’s personal to me and personal to them. I’m very open and honest with them.”
Hockey player and NHS member Michael Anquillare did a lot of promoting the shirts at a hockey game, where they made $500 in donations.
“To hear Mrs. Zettergren’s story, it’s something you don’t forget for the rest of your life,” he said.
Another student, Eliza O’Connor, said she’s had a close relative treated at Smilow and, “her (Zettergren’s) story connected with me, what she went through with her child.”
Who was Brenna?
Brenna, sick for two years of her short life, had a type of leukemia that her mother said was supposed to be 97 percent curable. Something went wrong, as Brenna’s cancer came back four times, she said.
Zettergren described Brenna as “brave” and “sassy.” She said when the hospital clown came to visit young patients, some of them were scared, but not Brenna — she got every bit of attention she could from him and was “unapologetic,” Zettergren said.
“She charmed the doctors and the child life specialists,” Zettergren said. “She had a twinkle.”
Brenna was a spitfire who loved “getting her hands dirty” painting, gluing and doing other crafty stuff when she was undergoing treatment, Zettergren said.
“It got us through a lot of tough days,” she said.
A craft closet at the hospital “filled with all kinds of kids’ things” honors Brenna and is called, “Bean’s Craft Corner,” because Beans was her nickname.
A mom’s career change
Zettergren became an attorney in 1998 and was partner in a law firm, but started to rethink life after losing Brenna, the third of four daughters.
“I had to figure out what was worthy of my time, effort. You just have to see through a new lens,” she said. “It kind of blows up your life. You don’t see anything the same anymore. … I just had to find a way to get out of bed.”
Zettergren switched careers about eight years ago — two years after Brenna died — through an accelerated teaching program run by the state. She’s never looked back. “Someone led me to these kids and that’s what I needed,” she said.
“I love being a teacher,” she said. “Every day, the love they (students)extend to us, the energy.”
Carla DeStefanis, an Italian and Spanish teacher who is co-adviser with Zettergren, said she believes the success of the fundraising is “a testament to Jen’s openness and willingness to talk about it.”
“I’m proud of these kids. They raised the bar” for the future, DeStefanis said.
Zettergren said the entire student body deserves credit because they all supported the cause by purchasing shirts.
“In everything I do I hold my daughter close,” Zettergren said. “There’s always a connection with what she went through.”
Last year the fundraiser was dedicated to Megan Russo, a student battling cancer who graduated last year.
Student Rebecca Anastasio said the cause resonated with her because she lost her grandmother to cancer. “This is something I wanted to do to honor her and Brenna,” Rebecca said. “It’s so good for kids going through difficult times.”
Student Juliana Nascia said she was involved as a young Girl Scout in bringing toys, crafts and even visiting with kids at Smilow.
“It’s heartbreaking to see them go through what they do,” but wonderful to see them smile at little things, she said. “To be able to do this now is kind of coming full circle. We set a precedent for years to come.”
Anyone who wants to buy a T-shirt can email Zettergrem.jennifer@northhavenschools.org or DeStefanis.carla@northhavenschools.org.