12-Year-Old's Final Wish Fulfilled: Lego Donations Bring Joy to Sick Kids

Jace Zembsch's legacy lives on through Lego sets given to Children's Mercy Hospital patients

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:54am

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Jace Zembsch, a 12-year-old boy who battled Ewing's sarcoma, passed away three weeks ago. Before his death, he asked his parents to donate Lego sets to other children at Children's Mercy Hospital, as the toys had comforted him during his own treatment. Jace's parents created an Amazon wish list and have been overwhelmed by the community's response, receiving hundreds of Lego donations to fulfill their son's final wish.

Why it matters

Jace's story highlights the power of small gestures to bring joy and comfort to children facing serious illnesses. The Lego donations not only fulfill Jace's legacy, but also provide a tangible way for the community to support sick kids during difficult times.

The details

Jace loved building Lego sets during his lengthy hospital stays and chemotherapy treatments. When his parents asked if he wanted to do another round of chemo, he chose not to continue the painful process. Before passing away, Jace tasked his parents with donating Lego sets to other children at the hospital. His mother created an Amazon wish list, and the family has since received hundreds of Lego donations, including many of Jace's favorites like the 'Up' house set.

  • Jace Zembsch passed away three weeks ago.
  • The family delivered the Lego donations to Children's Mercy Hospital on Monday.

The players

Jace Zembsch

A 12-year-old boy who battled Ewing's sarcoma and passed away three weeks ago. Before his death, he asked his parents to donate Lego sets to other children at Children's Mercy Hospital.

Brooklynn Zembsch

Jace's mother, who created an Amazon wish list filled with Lego sets and board games to fulfill her son's final wish.

Children's Mercy Hospital

The hospital that received the Lego donations to provide to pediatric patients.

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What they’re saying

“When he was here, they would come in and ask him, 'What can we give you to make you feel better?' He would ask for Legos and they'd say, 'Well, we'll go try to find some Legos.'”

— Brooklynn Zembsch, Jace's mother (wbal.com)

“We just wanted to make sure other kids could have those things that made Jace feel really good because we know how depressing it can be for kids to be here.”

— Brooklynn Zembsch, Jace's mother (wbal.com)

“It helps remind us of him, too. We want to always keep his name alive ... Everything Jace went through, we wanted to always have a bigger purpose.”

— Brooklynn Zembsch, Jace's mother (wbal.com)

What’s next

The family plans to continue the Lego donation drive every year on Jace's birthday to keep his memory alive.

The takeaway

Jace's story demonstrates the profound impact a simple act of kindness can have on children facing serious illnesses. The Lego donations not only brought joy to sick kids, but also allowed Jace's family to honor his memory and create a lasting legacy of love.