ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A South Georgia mother who lost her 23-year-old daughter to leukemia has turned her grief into a nonprofit aimed at making sure other families do not face treatment alone.

Tracy Cruel founded Brie’s Gift after the death of her daughter, Brielle Cruel. Cruel said the only reason she made it through her daughter’s treatment was that she had a support system around her.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without a village,” Cruel said. “And I know a lot of people don’t have a village.”

What Brie’s Gift provides

The organization helps families obtain supplies and covers unexpected expenses — including gas and food — costs that Cruel said can quickly accumulate for caregivers. Brie’s Gift has partnered with the Phoebe Foundation to reach families it might not otherwise connect with.

Hillary Murphy of the Phoebe Foundation said the partnership helps bridge a resource gap in the region.

“We live in a very poor socioeconomic area,” Murphy said. “And not everybody has the same resources. And we’re often limited as an organization what we can do. So, we really rely on philanthropic dollars to help bridge the gap for qualified patients.”

Going beyond the process

Cruel said she recently stepped in personally after learning a caregiver did not have enough money for food. Rather than waiting on paperwork, she gave the caregiver money directly to ensure they could eat.

Cruel said her daughter’s memory continues to motivate her work.

“I feel like she’s sitting like a butterfly on my shoulder,” Cruel said. “And every day she tells me, you got this. You got this. You know, I think she’s very proud.”

Cruel said she hopes Brie’s Gift will keep her daughter’s legacy alive by supporting others during their hardest moments.

“Every time we raise some money to continue to push the mission, it’s like I’m watching her grow,” Cruel said. “And I’m watching the person that she would have been if she would have made it. And though she will forever be 23 to me and her family, her legacy will still continue because her butterfly community is steadily growing.”

Brie’s Gift relies on community support to continue helping caregivers across South Georgia. For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or request assistance, visit briesgift.org

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