#LittleWarriorStrong Stories | Vol I
Every single day, 43 precious children are diagnosed with cancer, at an average age of just six years old. The following pages contain real stories of some of these incredible children as told by their loved ones. Stories of great joy from a healing, extreme grief from a loss, and incredible inspiration from a continued fight. These children are precious, adored and so loved. At just a few years, months, and even weeks old, these children face battles every single day that many of us will never have to face even one time in our adult lives. They are #LittleWarriorStrong.
Every single day, 43 precious children are diagnosed with cancer, at an average age of just six years old. The following pages contain real stories of some of these incredible children as told by their loved ones. Stories of great joy from a healing, extreme grief from a loss, and incredible inspiration from a continued fight. These children are precious, adored and so loved. At just a few years, months, and even weeks old, these children face battles every single day that many of us will never have to face even one time in our adult lives. They are #LittleWarriorStrong.
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Little Warrior | 30<br />
31 | Little Warrior<br />
ELLIE<br />
Age 3 | Neuroblastoma<br />
Little Warrior Ellie was diagnosed at 10 months old, with what was thought to be<br />
Stage 2 Neuroblastoma. It came as a complete shock, because she was so healthy<br />
and happy! After Ellie’s tumor was removed at 10 months of age, Ellie had scans<br />
periodically over the next three years. Ellie’s parents were reassured that she had a<br />
95% chance of never needing further treatment.<br />
Shortly before Ellie’s fourth birthday an abnormality was discovered during her<br />
routine scans again, and again, they we were reassured that it wasn’t cancer.<br />
But Ellie’s mom followed her instincts as a mother, and sure enough, it was<br />
Neuroblastoma. They also made the startling discovery that Ellie had stage IV cancer<br />
as an infant, upon further review, and had just gone three years with no treatment<br />
while it was left to metastasize. Because Ellie was now four and not 10 months<br />
old, Ellie was suddenly looking at a 50% chance of survival and some of the most<br />
aggressive treatment there is for pediatric cancer.<br />
In June of 2015, Ellie had just turned four and began treatment for Neuroblastoma.<br />
To date, she has completed eigh cycles of chemotherapy, eight weeks of proton<br />
radiation, six cycles of antibody therapy, and five of seven vaccine shots as part of<br />
a clinical trial. And somehow, has made 17 trips to New York for treatment within<br />
the past year! And the best part of all of this is that she is thriving. You would never<br />
know the extensive amount of therapy she’s had.<br />
“We always remain cautiously optimistic, knowing the relapse rate hovers at 50%.<br />
But we do our very best to live each day to the fullest and consider ourselves very<br />
fortunate that we still have a battle to fight. Ellie has given us a new purpose/<br />
direction in life. There are very few positive things that come from being told<br />
your child has cancer, and having to come to terms with the very real possibility<br />
of planning their funeral. Your mind goes to some very dark, scary places. But if<br />
there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s being able to fully appreciate and love the<br />
smallest of things with our children,” shares Ellie’s mom.<br />
Follow Ellie’s journey on Facebook at facebook.com/elliesplace
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