Elena's Hope

Journal Archives

Nothing we could every write here can convey the amount of love and joy that Elena brings to our family. She was our first and the cornerstone of our small family. Born just over 5 years ago on a snowy December morning, she became our hope and our dreams. With the addition of her sister Gracie, our family was complete.

Then the day after Thanksgiving it all started. Without warning she lost her voice, developed a limp in her right leg and had spells of dizziness. At first we thought it was strep throat, then migraines, but then three days later we were told it was a brain tumor. Finally, with the cooperation of Cincinnati Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, it was officially diagnosed as a diffused brain stem glioma. Worse yet, it is most likely inoperable and the typical prognosis is difficult. Since then, life has changed, but through it all Elena has exhibited a resiliency that we could not have imagined. She is a strong and serious girl with intelligence and wisdom to match. We are lucky to have her as part of our family.

Although we can’t remember every moment of her little life, we can remember the nights. Nights starting with a bath and a book. She’d always choose the biggest book and we’d always beg for the simple one. Somehow we’d always settle on “A Light in the Attic” or “One Fish, Two Fish. Red Fish, Blue Fish.” We’d read and she would listen, but as the book dragged on and we would skip a page, she would catch us and turn the page back. What we won’t give to have those pages back. Then we’d end the night with a kiss, a tickle and a comment of how proud we were. Those are the nights we’d love to relive now. Now we pick the longest books we can find and enjoy every moment of every word.

Elena's journey sadly ended on August 11, 2007.

We continue our journal to help bring awareness of this cancer and comfort to any other families that are going through this now.