Tonight, after a long day of sun, water, and little girls, I find myself lighting a candle to Buddha for one little brave girl and her family. A high school friend of mine, Krista, has a little girl who was diagnosed two years ago with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. She finished chemo for it about a year ago and has been cancer free since. However, not every child who has this rare form of pediatric cancer is as lucky. One of those children is Ellie Potvin, a wonderous and beautiful 8 yr old whose sparkling eyes light up the room. This is the video that Krista posted that introduced me to Ellie:
Please say a prayer, light a candle, however your beliefs lead you to send some positive light toward this family who has suffered and is facing the death of a beloved child. If you want to read more about Ellie's story and send a donation to her family here are the various links:
Caring Bridge
Lift Up Ellie
Project Bloom Girls
Over the last couple of years, thanks to the Internet, I have heard about too many children fighting a fight that they should not have to face. Mothers losing their babies too soon to a disease that has no warning and does not discriminate. I am sending out my thoughts, hope, and light to all families out there tonight who are fighting along side their little ones.
UPDATE: Today (June 23rd) Dear Ellie passed away in her mother's arms at 11:35am. She is no longer in pain and suffering. There is funeral information on the Caring Bridge website listed above. I hope that someday soon we will have a better way to treat this awful disease, for the sake of all of our children.
Our hearts and prayers go out to Ellie's family in this time of great grief. Ellie is now safe in the arms of God.
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