Little Jenna is just a kid—but now, she’s alone. The flood took her whole family. Her dad held on tight to her baby brother, but the water swept them both away. Her mom and two older brothers disappeared too, and they’re still missing. When Tom Brady, a single dad of three, heard her story, he cried. No press, no spotlight—just a dad feeling another parent’s pain. He sat down and wrote Jenna a handwritten letter and make a promise with her. She wouldn’t face life alone. When people read that letter and know Tom’s promise, they cried too—not just for the loss, but for the kindness. One heart reaching out to another. And it touched the whole nation.

“YOU ARE NEVER ALONE”: Tom Brady’s Tearful Letter to Little Jenna, the Only Survivor of a Texas Family Swept Away by Floodwaters

John Burgess, 39, was killed in the Texas floods. A witness said he 'was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away'
John Burgess, 39, was killed in the Texas floods. A witness said he ‘was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away’

She is just seven years old.
She went to sleep at camp, excited for a weekend of summer fun.
She woke up an orphan.

Family members confirmed that John and his wife, Julia (pictured), were among those found dead in the Texas floods
Family members confirmed that John and his wife, Julia (pictured), were among those found dead in the Texas floods

In a tragedy that has gripped the nation, Jenna Burgess was the only surviving member of her family after flash floods swept through Kerr County, Texas over the July 4th weekend — wiping out the RV park where her parents and brothers were vacationing.

Her father, John Burgess, 39, was last seen clinging to a tree, arms wrapped around his two sons, Jack, 5, and James, just 1 year old. Witnesses say he refused to let go — until the water finally tore them all away.

Jenna’s mother, Julia Anderson Burgess, 38, was also found dead.
Her brothers are still missing.

Jenna was spared only because she happened to be staying at a nearby summer camp, just a few miles away — one that the floods, somehow, didn’t touch.

The floods ravaged Kerr County as the death toll topped 100 victims, many of which were children (Pictured: First responders looking for survivors and remains)
The floods ravaged Kerr County as the death toll topped 100 victims, many of which were children (Pictured: First responders looking for survivors and remains)

Now, as the nation mourns the lives lost, one unexpected figure has stepped forward with a message that has left millions in tears:

Tom Brady.

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“My Heart Broke for Her”

Tributes have already begun pouring in for John and Julia as their two young sons remain unaccounted for. Their daughter, who was staying at a nearby camp, was safe from the floods
Tributes have already begun pouring in for John and Julia as their two young sons remain unaccounted for. Their daughter, who was staying at a nearby camp, was safe from the floods

The NFL legend, seven-time Super Bowl champion, and father of three, says he was sitting at home when he read about Jenna’s story.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about her,” he said in a post on his Instagram. “Seven years old. Her whole world gone in one night. And somehow, she’s still here. That’s a strength I can’t even imagine.”

But Brady didn’t stop at words.
He made a promise — and he sent something that stunned even the grieving relatives.

The couple were among those who died in the Texas floods
They were remembered as the 'sweetest and kindest family'

Julia was a teacher at Liberty Elementary and John had a financial services business


A Future for Jenna — and a Letter That Broke the World

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Through the TB12 Foundation, Brady has pledged to cover Jenna’s full education — from private school to college — along with therapy, housing support, and a trust fund in her name.

“Jenna doesn’t just need help today,” he said. “She needs to know, for the rest of her life, that she was never forgotten.”

But what left the world weeping was the handwritten letter Brady sent to Jenna, delivered in a small blue envelope marked simply: “For Jenna. From Tom.”


The Words That Shook a Nation

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Inside, in Tom’s own handwriting, were the words:

“Dear Jenna,
I wish I could sit with you right now. I wish I could hug you and tell you how incredibly brave you are. I read about your daddy — how he held your brothers in his arms until the very end. That’s what heroes do, Jenna. And your dad was a real-life hero.

I want you to know something: you are not alone. Not now. Not ever. You are surrounded by people who love you, even ones you’ve never met — like me. And I’m going to do everything I can to help you feel strong, safe, and loved.

One day, I hope we meet. Until then, keep being the bright light your family always saw in you. And remember: you are never, ever alone.”

The letter ended with a drawing — a little football with wings — and a final line:

“Your dad would be so proud of you. And I am too.”

— Tom.


“She Clutched That Letter All Night”

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Family members say Jenna cried when she received the letter — not because she fully understood who Tom Brady was, but because it was the first moment she felt seen since the world changed.

“She clutched that letter all night,” a relative shared. “She kept saying, ‘He said my daddy was a hero.’”


A Nation in Grief, a Girl We Won’t Forget

Burgess family of Liberty among missing in Guadalupe River flooding -  Bluebonnet News

As Texas continues to count its dead and search for the missing, Jenna’s story stands as a symbol of the human cost of this disaster — and the quiet, powerful ways people are trying to piece the broken parts back together.

Brady’s gesture has sparked a wave of support, with thousands now donating to the Burgess Family Memorial Fund, which will go toward flood recovery and helping other orphaned children.


🕊️ Jenna may have lost everything. But now, she knows something for sure: the world is holding her close.
And thanks to one father’s letter to another man’s daughter, she’ll never walk this path alone.