“She’ll live on long after I’m gone,” Jayci Yaeger’s father, who was in prison when she died honors her legacy

On December 23rd, 100 children who usually spend their nights in a homeless shelter be at Champion’s Fun Center instead, celebrating the birthday of a girl who they’ve never met.

“We’re going to give all the kids a night of bowling, the maze, tokens so they can play games, we’ve got 30 extra large pizza’s, a ton of pasta,” Jason Yaeger, with Project Jayci’s Angels said.

It’s in honor of his daughter, Jayci Yaeger, who died of brain cancer in 2008.

You may remember the story making national news: a ten year old Nebraska girl with terminal cancer who’s dying wish is to see her father one more time.

Her father, Jason, was incarcerated at a minimum security federal prison camp in Yankton, South Dakota on a drug charge when Jayci’s condition took a sharp turn downhill.

Jason tried to request a furlough that would allow him to leave and finish the rest of his sentence after Jayci had passed, when that was denied, he tried to file for clemency from the president.

“She wanted me there, and I needed to be there,” Jason said.

In an interview with Jason’s brother Ed Yaeger in 2008, Ed told Channel 8 she was unconscious most of the time near the end of her short life.

“But when you put the phone up to her ear and Jason speaks to her she cries,” he said.

Jason got to see her for less than an hour before she died. He said it was sad knowing it was the last time he’d ever see his daughter who loved him more than anything.

“She had such a big heart, even when going through all of this,” Jason said.

 So once he was released from prison about a year after Jayci died, Jason dedicated his life to carrying on his daughter’s legacy.

“When I got out I just started taking toys, just five toys to St. Elizabeth, which we still do today,” he said.

For years he did everything he could to raise funds, from riding a bicycle taxi in downtown Lincoln on game days to holding poker runs with his motorcycle ministry- anything he could do to provide gifts for children and give back on December 23 each year, in honor of Jayci’s birthday.

But this year Project Jayci’s Angels has grown.

Jason raised a record amount of $16,000 by raffling off a motorcycle and Project Jayci’s Angels officially earned non-profit status.

He said it’s helped him deal with the pain of losing Jayci and has driven him to start a new chapter in his life.

“People can change and do change, I mean I have an amazing life now,” Jason said. “I’ve remarried, I have a beautiful wife and stepchildren. Jayci’s sister just blessed me with a grandchild.”

And he’s making so many children happy; in just making sure the world doesn’t forget his Jayci.

“Because of her all these kids are having a Christmas they wouldn’t be able to have.”

If you’d like to get involved with Jayci’s Angels, click here: https://www.facebook.com/projectjaycisangelinc/