Pennsylvania 5-Year-Old's Dying Wish: 10,000 Toys For Others

Ten-thousand toys: That was the 5-year-old's goal. Her Christmas list wasn't extra long. These toys were not for her. Rather, Jillian Massey made it her life's mission to collect them for children in local oncology units. But now she won't be here to make sure it happens.

Jillian, known lovingly as Sassy Massey and sometimes Santa's CEO, died Monday, Dec. 4 after a 20-month battle with brain cancer.

Now, her family and friends are doing all they can to see that the dying wish of the spunky girl from Pennsylvania comes true.

Jillian became ill in April 2016, less than a month after her 4th birthday.

One day, she woke up and struggled to walk and balance. After a visit to her doctor, she was sent to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where a CAT scan revealed every parent's worst nightmare: a tumor, according to a GoFundMe page set up for her family.

Her parents later learned it was not just one tumor but "numerous and complicated" brain tumors along with her spinal cord, the fundraising page explained.

When her condition worsened this spring, doctors told her parents she would not be able to survive. Jillian was put in palliative care, allowing her to live her last few months of life as fully as possible, her parents said on a website created for the toy drive.

But as she battled what would be a terminal illness, she set a goal. She knew what it was like to spend days, weeks, months in the hospital. She wanted to give other children with the same plight a reason to smile.

And to do that, she set her sights on giving them toys.

Lots of them.

In September of 2016, the Sassy Massey Toy Drive began with a modest goal of donating 50 to 100 toys to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where the girl received treatment, according to sassymasseytoydrive.com.

They blew that number out of the water, and in 2017 Jillian set a lofty goal of donating 10,000 toys.

With the devastating news of Jillian's death, drive organizers wondered if the effort would go on.

Of course it would, her mother said.

"That's what Jillian loved to do: give to others, spread kindness and cheer. March on knowing that she'd be there if she could. Actually, she will be there, watching over all of us," family friend Dan Emmerson said in a video posted to Facebook. He was quoting a text from Jillian's mother, Janelle.

But to get there, they need a big push.

Between 6,000 to 7,000 toys have been donated so far, said Emmerson, who has helped organize the toy drive.

"Jillian told us to get to 10,000 toys, and that's what we'll do," Emmerson said.

The toys will be delivered to the following hospitals: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Children’s Hospital; Doylestown Hospital; and DuPont Children’s Hospital in Delaware, the Morning Call reported.

Donations are needed by Dec. 13 so the toys can be delivered in time for Christmas.

To donate, simply visit the online Amazon list created by the campaign (choose Tyler Transport Solutions/Sassy Massey Toy Drive as the delivery address).

On Dec. 18 at Ridley High School in Delaware County, there will be a toy drive pep rally at 9:30 a.m. Since Jillian loved horses and dogs, mounted patrols and K-9 units will be there, Emmerson said. A State Police helicopter is also expected to land on the athletic fields; the public is welcomed to attend.

Here is the full text of her obituary, via Connell Funeral Home:

Jillian. Jilly. Jilly Bop. Sassy Massey. Santa’s CEO. A tiny, blonde-haired, blue-eyed powerhouse who packed an entire lifetime of tomorrows into five years. Together, with her angels James, Rosie, and Brielle, Jillian made her way through this world with gymnastic tumbles, twisty water slide plunges, and diving board cannon balls. She stole hearts one lemonade stand at a time and brought thousands upon thousands of smiles with every toy she collected for the Sassy Massey Toy Drive.

She loved watching her brothers Jack and Jake play baseball and she took her responsibilities in the snack bar very seriously. Her selfie game was as fierce as her sass. She loved family trips to Florida, dolphins, going to school, and her CHOP family, especially Nurse Jess. She felt safest in her mommy’s arms, where together they would sing "You Are My Sunshine" to shine light upon the rainy days. In the face of those rainy days, Jilly taught us that sometimes the best way to handle stormy weather is by ignoring the rules and dancing in the fountains.

She loved her American Girl Dolls and coordinating their outfits. She believed butterflies were angels and that rainbows were colorful slides down from heaven. She loved all animals and was the finest five year old vet tech there ever was; she also showed impressive hair cutting prowess. She loved Elsa, Moana, and all the Lost Boys in Neverland. Above all else, Jillian knew that the best way to say, “I Love You” was three squeezes, that the only way to make sure that your Barbie dream house was set up correctly was to do it yourself, and that when you put on a beautiful flower girl dress and high heels you must twirl.

Jillian is survived by her loving parents, Jim and Janelle Massey, her remarkable brothers Jack and Jake, her adoring grandparents Eric (Gramps) and Joani (Bam) Dornblaser, JuneBug, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and countless friends who became family. In true Jillian fashion, she ensured that she filled everyone’s pockets with enough hugs and kisses to last until we all meet again in Forever.

Those who were touched by the incredible light of Jillian are welcome to share in her memory.

A visitation will be held at Connell Funeral Home, 245 East Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 on Sunday, December 10th from 3:00-7:00 pm. A second visitation will be held Monday, December 11th, from 9:30-10:30 am at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:45 am.

In lieu of flowers, the Massey family suggests donations be made to CHOP via the Grayson Saves Foundation. Checks can be sent to Grayson Saves Foundation, PO Box 524, Hockessin, DE 19707 or online at www.graysonsaves.org.

PHOTO: GoFundMe