Welcome to Elijah Gives Hope—a journey of courage, resilience, and hope in the face of cancer. This is a reflection of Elijah’s incredible spirit and the lessons he taught us along the way.
Elijah was originally diagnosed at the age of 11 months old with Neuroblastoma Cancer. Elijah’s cancer was found in his upper chest. It was originally found when Elijah was diagnosed with RSV. Doctors informed us we needed a X-ray, CT, and MRI scan, which led to doctors finding a softball sized mass in Elijah’s chest. Elijahs was instantly admitted to ICU. From the very beginning, his bravery was evident. He faced each challenge with a smile, inspiring everyone around him. Doctors recommended we started on chemotherapy right away; however, one surgeon felt like he could successful remove the tumor.
In September of 2022, Elijah was scheduled for tumor reduction surgery. The day of his surgery was daunting, but his determination never wavered. He approached it with the same courage he showed every day, showing us what true strength looks like. Elijah’s surgery was successful with 99% of the tumor being removed. Although, it was a lengthy and massive surgery, Elijah was back to standing up and crawling in no time. We spent about 2 weeks in the ICU after his surgery to insure he was perfectly fine to go home. Elijah was the happiest boy ever being cancer free for his first birthday!!!
However, in April of 2023, Elijah’s cancer returned to its original size and location. Elijah’s was only 5 months cancer free when his mother discovered a lump on his shoulder when bathing him. Elijah’s parent were concerned and notified his doctors right away. Elijahs was instantly admitted as a precaution. Elijah headed to surgery to get a port put in and started on chemotherapy right away. Elijahs completed 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 12 days of radiation. His journey may have been filled with obstacles, but it also taught us the power of hope and the importance of supporting one another. I hope Elijah Gives Hope resonates with you and inspires you to find strength in your own challenges.