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Gold Ribbon Hero: Elin

Tag Archives: glioblastoma

 

Meet Elin, a 6 year old glioblastoma warrior.

In December of 2021, Elin started developing evening headaches and intermittent nausea and vomiting not associated with diarrhea. On the day of her school Christmas party, Elin told her mom she didn’t want to go and that raised a red flag to her mother. Elin’s mother, Elizabeth took her to the emergency room where they ran tests. “They asked me to talk privately in a consultation room and told me the news that no one ever wants to hear.” 

Elin was diagnosed with glioblastoma just eight days before Christmas. “On one hand we felt relieved for a reason for her headaches, but disbelief/shock and overwhelming sadness for the tumor diagnosis and fear for the future.” Her diagnosis showed a devastating pathological tumor which required traveling to different cities for treatment. She’s endured two craniotomies, a port placement, many MRI’s, radiation and chemotherapy. 

Through her treatments, “Elin has not really complained. She was having headaches more consistently prior to her diagnosis but we didn’t fathom the severity. She recovered so well from surgery given how ill she was. She has never questioned why we have done all of the radiation treatments and oral medications. She just knows that we love her and want her to get poked and prodded. She trusts us in this. She has needle and band aid phobia but endures the discomfort and manages to be happy every day.” 

Elin enjoys running and singing. According to her mom, she secretly loves rap music. She is happy to eat a hamburger every day and loves to travel. Currently she is receiving oral chemotherapy agents in a clinical trial for the next 18-24 months. 

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Brain cancers account for about 15% of pediatric cancers and are the second most common type of cancer in children. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Learn more by clicking here.

 

Meet Kelsie, a forever 17 year old glioblastoma warrior.

After battling months of nonstop headaches and losing peripheral vision in her right eye, Kelsie underwent surgery to remove an egg-sized glioblastoma in her left occipital lobe. After recovering from surgery she went through 30 days of radiation and chemo, followed by a year long course of chemotherapy. Kelsie thrived during the time after treatment. She was actively involved in her school, community and church. She participated as a cheerleader and majorette for her high school, was involved in missions, and loved music and singing.

Kelsie went 18 months off-therapy with no evidence of disease. In January 2018, Kelsie had a seizure and after a scan found multiple inoperable recurrent tumors she was put into a clinical trial. Kelsie started the HSV G207 clinical trial at Children’s of Alabama followed by 25 rounds of radiation but it was simply not enough to keep up with the aggressive nature of the disease.

Kelsie’s mom, Tracey, remembers her by saying, “Kelsie lived her life to the fullest. She never let her diagnosis discourage her. She kept a positive attitude and a smile on her face. She never stopped striving for success in everything she did. Whether it be school work, mission work, cheerleading, band…you name it. She even tried out for varsity cheer just one month after undergoing surgery, and of course made the squad. She was determined. She was always more concerned with other people being okay rather than herself. She never let you know anything was wrong with her. She wanted more than anything for life to just be normal. Kelsie loved the people in her life BIG and with all she had. Her life made such a huge impact on everyone that knew her. Cancer can take many things from us, but it can never take the love and the legacy our loved ones leave behind.”

Learn more about Glioblastoma here: https://www.acco.org/blog/childhood-brain-tumors-staging-and-prognosis-factors/

Follow Kelsie’s Hope on Facebook: @LifeOfEucharisteo

 

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