The holidays are just around the corner, and Elliott’s smile is wider than ever. He will be spending the holidays at home for the first time since he started his treatments. So this year, there are two trees he’s looking forward to seeing all lit up.
In April 2018, a month before he turned four, Elliot had a huge asthma attack. His folks were taken by surprise. They rushed him to the closest hospital, where X-rays revealed a mass between his heart and his lungs.
The next day, a medical team was waiting for Elliot and his family at Sainte-Justine to conduct a series of tests. A blood marrow sample ruled out leukemia, but nobody could tell for sure what was wrong. A biopsy was the only way to establish a clear diagnosis. The operation was risky: the doctors suspected an incipient tumour, which could spread on contact. Fortunately, the procedure was successful. Three days later, the official verdict was in: T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, which usually strikes later in adolescence.
There turned out to be a treatment available to save Elliot’s life. But they had to act immediately. A second lung X-ray showed the tumour had doubled in size in only a few days. From that moment on, Elliot’s parents had one priority and only one: doing what they had to to get him better.
We put everything on hold to be there for him while he underwent chemotherapy. Up until January, while our mothers took turns looking after our two older children, we focused all our energy on being by his bedside.
The holidays weren’t easy. But in the midst of the ordeal, the nightly lighting up ceremony for Sainte-Justine’s Tree of Lights had a huge impact. It symbolized the commitment of people across the province to making sure Elliot received the best care and could have his parents with him at all times, thanks to the help of Sainte-Justine’s Social Services Department.
Every light made us feel like we weren’t alone. The Tree of Lights puts a sparkle of magic in our children’s eyes. It gives us hope and is an amazing source of comfort.
Today, after 19 months of treatment, Elliot is doing better – thanks to the caregivers at Sainte-Justine, but also thanks to you. Even though he still has more chemo treatments to go through, it looks like he’s on the path to recovery. And that terrifying mass of his? It’s virtually disappeared!
Like all children, Elliot loves getting gifts. One day, Laurence and Xavier know he’ll realize the gift he received during his stay at Sainte-Justine was the most generous one of all.
Last year, the Tree of Lights gave Elliot the strength to fight his illness. This year, he’s counting on you to help hundreds of other families who will be in the hospital over the holidays.
Every light brings an extra dose of comfort and joy. From now until December 12, please make life brighter for our children by helping Sainte-Justine’s Tree of Lights glow brighter than ever.
Thank you for helping families in need
As well as delivering an incredible message of hope and comfort, your donations help support Sainte-Justine in its pursuit of excellence and the hospital’s Social Services Department as it reaches out to families in dire financial straits – allowing parents to focus their energy on helping their children get better.
