Elijah's Story
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Thank you for reading Elijah's Journey!
After 2 unsuccessful facial surgeries to remove the tumour and extensive reconstruction, Elijah is now undergoing Chemotherapy. The likes of this tumour has never been documented globally before so we are now undergoing what may be a hit or miss chemo treatment to see if we can stop the tumour from doing more damage to his face. It will be a very long year ahead for the family as he goes in and out of hospital, treatments, infections & long periods of isolation. Dana will not be able to work and continues to struggle so we are trying to ensure she can meet all his needs during what is an extremely challenging time for them.
We thought it might be a great opportunity for family and friends to come together and help ease things for Dana financially. As awesome as it would be to support Eli and Dana with gifts, a few extra dollars is honestly going to help them more at this time to cover travel, food, medication, dressings, parking, clothing and ongoing care etc.
If you’d like to support Dana and Eli, please go to the GoFundraiseMe Link and make a donation.
Together we CAN make a difference to ease their current circumstances.
Thank you in advance for your amazing support.
February 2019:
With journeying back down the path of facial surgery for the Tumour regrowth, another rib taken for reconstruction plus this time looks like skin grafts and what will be a longer hospital journey due to chemotherapy, I thought it may help Dana to give her some support again. The tumour has affected his nose, tipped it sideways again and he now can’t close his mouth or he can’t breath.
The $11k previously raised had been a major blessing! It purchased a secondhand car for Dana she lost in the accident, covered the hospital costs and helped her move closer to me for support.
Dana completed her course but can’t work whist Elijah is going through surgery so I wanted to reach out again to all my amazing network and supporters for fundraising.
Anything you can give them is very welcome.
Kirsty
July 2018:
Thank you for reading Elijah’s Story. As you probably know, little 14 month old Elijah has recently been diagnosed with a very rare condition called Maxillary Craniofacial Fasciitis and is having to undergo some serious facial reconstructive surgery.
Elijah’s Story
Just recently on 6th of May 2018, Elijah celebrated his 1st birthday with family and friends.
Now 2 months later he has to undergo major emergency surgery.
Little 14 month old Elijah has recently been diagnosed with a very rare condition called Cranial Fasciitis and is having to undergo some serious facial reconstructive surgery.
There have been only 55 known cases in literature since the late 1800’s. This rare form of bone tumour has unfortunately grown on his face rather than the skull. It’s also grown at an unprecedented rate the doctors haven’t seen before. It started as a small lump on the side of his nose and was thought to be a swollen sinus. In the space of 7 weeks, it’s destroyed his orbital bone (cheekbone to the eye socket), taken over and collapsed his nose and is destroying all the underlying bone structure. It’s in his sinuses, nearly closed his eye and destroying his teeth. It’s now done so much damage and is so big under the skin the doctors have fast-tracked his operation. Devastatingly they can’t do keyhole surgery and have to open from along under his eye, down the nose all the way through his lip. He’s always been such a happy and calm little boy so all of this is extremely distressing for the family.
Right now, it is extremely tough for his mother Dana. She’s a 22 year old single mum struggling on a pension whilst doing TAFE to give her and her son a better life. Only 6 weeks ago she was involved in a dreadful car accident leaving her without a vehicle. This has added to the burden.
There are many expenses now that weren’t there a couple of months ago, and this will continue for many months to come as Elijah goes through multiple surgeries to remove the tumour, reconstruct and skin graft his face.
We thought it might be a great opportunity for family and friends to come together and help ease things for Dana financially. As awesome as it would be to support Eli and Dana with gifts, at present a little financial support would help ease the burden of extra expenses such as travel/hospital parking, food, medication, clothing and ongoing care etc.
After 2 unsuccessful facial surgeries to remove the tumour and extensive reconstruction, Elijah is now undergoing Chemotherapy. The likes of this tumour has never been documented globally before so we are now undergoing what may be a hit or miss chemo treatment to see if we can stop the tumour from doing more damage to his face. It will be a very long year ahead for the family as he goes in and out of hospital, treatments, infections & long periods of isolation. Dana will not be able to work and continues to struggle so we are trying to ensure she can meet all his needs during what is an extremely challenging time for them.
We thought it might be a great opportunity for family and friends to come together and help ease things for Dana financially. As awesome as it would be to support Eli and Dana with gifts, a few extra dollars is honestly going to help them more at this time to cover travel, food, medication, dressings, parking, clothing and ongoing care etc.
If you’d like to support Dana and Eli, please go to the GoFundraiseMe Link and make a donation.
Together we CAN make a difference to ease their current circumstances.
Thank you in advance for your amazing support.
February 2019:
With journeying back down the path of facial surgery for the Tumour regrowth, another rib taken for reconstruction plus this time looks like skin grafts and what will be a longer hospital journey due to chemotherapy, I thought it may help Dana to give her some support again. The tumour has affected his nose, tipped it sideways again and he now can’t close his mouth or he can’t breath.
The $11k previously raised had been a major blessing! It purchased a secondhand car for Dana she lost in the accident, covered the hospital costs and helped her move closer to me for support.
Dana completed her course but can’t work whist Elijah is going through surgery so I wanted to reach out again to all my amazing network and supporters for fundraising.
Anything you can give them is very welcome.
Kirsty
July 2018:
Thank you for reading Elijah’s Story. As you probably know, little 14 month old Elijah has recently been diagnosed with a very rare condition called Maxillary Craniofacial Fasciitis and is having to undergo some serious facial reconstructive surgery.
Elijah’s Story
Just recently on 6th of May 2018, Elijah celebrated his 1st birthday with family and friends.
Now 2 months later he has to undergo major emergency surgery.
Little 14 month old Elijah has recently been diagnosed with a very rare condition called Cranial Fasciitis and is having to undergo some serious facial reconstructive surgery.
There have been only 55 known cases in literature since the late 1800’s. This rare form of bone tumour has unfortunately grown on his face rather than the skull. It’s also grown at an unprecedented rate the doctors haven’t seen before. It started as a small lump on the side of his nose and was thought to be a swollen sinus. In the space of 7 weeks, it’s destroyed his orbital bone (cheekbone to the eye socket), taken over and collapsed his nose and is destroying all the underlying bone structure. It’s in his sinuses, nearly closed his eye and destroying his teeth. It’s now done so much damage and is so big under the skin the doctors have fast-tracked his operation. Devastatingly they can’t do keyhole surgery and have to open from along under his eye, down the nose all the way through his lip. He’s always been such a happy and calm little boy so all of this is extremely distressing for the family.
Right now, it is extremely tough for his mother Dana. She’s a 22 year old single mum struggling on a pension whilst doing TAFE to give her and her son a better life. Only 6 weeks ago she was involved in a dreadful car accident leaving her without a vehicle. This has added to the burden.
There are many expenses now that weren’t there a couple of months ago, and this will continue for many months to come as Elijah goes through multiple surgeries to remove the tumour, reconstruct and skin graft his face.
We thought it might be a great opportunity for family and friends to come together and help ease things for Dana financially. As awesome as it would be to support Eli and Dana with gifts, at present a little financial support would help ease the burden of extra expenses such as travel/hospital parking, food, medication, clothing and ongoing care etc.
Co-organizers (2)
Jennie Star
Organizer
Kirsty McGrath
Co-organizer