Community Mourns Loss Of 2-Year-Old Girl From St. Cajetan Parish

CHICAGO (MORGAN PARK) —As has happened far too often over the past several years, another child from Chicago’s Far South Side has lost her life to cancer. Finley Claire Bracken, a wee sprite of a girl from the St. Cajetan Parish in Morgan Park, died last Friday, a few weeks shy of her third birthday on Sept. 27.

Finley was diagnosed in October 2019 with neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that commonly affects children. Within days of learning of Finley’s diagnosis, neighbors raised more than $40,000 in three days to relieve her parents, Dan and Lacey, with medical and every day costs related to Finley’s treatment.

Her mother announced her daughter’s passing on the Fighting For Finley Bracken Facebook page, describing her daughter as a hero who almost always fought cancer with a smile on her face. When Finley couldn’t smile she never complained, her mother said.

Throughout Finley’s illness, her father stoically went to his job at a suburban fire department. Big sisters Macie, Teagan and Molly Kate put on brave faces and went to school. Last week, her parents brought Finley home, whose cancer had metastasized.

“In true Finley fashion she picked a day of heroes to go to heaven. I truly believe that was meant to be. 9/11 is a very special day in our family’s hearts. (For those of you that don’t know, many of us are firefighters),” Lacey Bracken wrote of her daughter. “She waited for most of her best buds and biggest fans to come say goodbye. We knew she was ready. We told her stories of the most wonderful people that she would meet in heaven. Angels like my mother, grandparents and special friends. I hope it helped her go.”

Like many families who’ve suffered losses in 2020, funeral arrangements for Finley are still being discussed, made more complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

St. Cajetan School is currently holding a fundraiser for the Bracken family, selling “Warriors Fight Together — FCB” apparel. Orders for T-shirts and fleece pullovers will be taken through Sept. 21, and can be ordered online. Proceeds will go to the Bracken family.

The Fighting For Finley GoFundMe campaign also continues to accept donations. Lacey Bracken thanked residents for their support, who lifted Finley and her family in prayer.

"Thank you for EVERYTHING! All this community support has been unbelievable. Finley touched so many lives in three short years. She’s taught us to be strong, always laugh, miracles DO happen, and people are still good in this crazy world!!"

Given the frequent occurrence of pediatric cancer in the Mount Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park, Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park area, residents began reaching out in 2017 to public health and elected officials about a possible “cancer cluster.”

The 19th Ward is currently the subject of a comprehensive cancer and chronic disease study conducted by the University of Chicago. The focus of the study is to determine why certain population groups in the city of Chicago have higher rates of occurrence of cancer and chronic diseases than others.