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Stephanie Hanley is an Associate in our PSS department and has been with Benefitfocus for over 6 years. Her eight month old daughter, Ellie, has recently received a cancer diagnosis. Many associates have reached out to ask how they can help, so we have set up this site. Please only contribute if you wish to do so, and if you'd like to support the family in a different way, please support them in the way you feel comfortable.
Below is a statement from Stephanie...
On October 28th, our pediatrician recommended we take Ellie to MUSC Children’s Hospital with concerns about a hard belly. We arrived and the doctors explained that it was likely a little twist in her intestine and that they were going to do an x-ray to confirm, then it would be a quick little procedure to correct it.
The x-ray came back a little abnormal, so an ultrasound was ordered. It was then that we learned Ellie had a significant mass on her liver. We were admitted that night and over the next few days Ellie had a biopsy of the mass performed, a few CT scans, and a central line placed in her chest.
We came home on the 31st to wait for test results, but returned to MUSC on November 3rd when her temperature started to climb. We received Ellie’s official diagnosis of a Rhabdoid Tumor on November 5th. It is an aggressive cancer and finding it in the liver occurs in about 1 in 2 million children.
The tumor is currently creating an excess of fluid in her abdomen as well as putting pressure on her diaphragm and other organs. She has started chemo and we have been approved for a trial drug that will specifically target the tumor; the goal is to shrink the tumor as much as possible before surgery, which will hopefully be scheduled around Christmas!
Ellie is a fighter and a favorite with the nurses, even when she’s asleep!
We have had such overwhelming support and love that we cannot begin to thank everyone. We have a long road ahead of us but we are hopeful and counting each day as a victory!
Below is a statement from Stephanie...
On October 28th, our pediatrician recommended we take Ellie to MUSC Children’s Hospital with concerns about a hard belly. We arrived and the doctors explained that it was likely a little twist in her intestine and that they were going to do an x-ray to confirm, then it would be a quick little procedure to correct it.
The x-ray came back a little abnormal, so an ultrasound was ordered. It was then that we learned Ellie had a significant mass on her liver. We were admitted that night and over the next few days Ellie had a biopsy of the mass performed, a few CT scans, and a central line placed in her chest.
We came home on the 31st to wait for test results, but returned to MUSC on November 3rd when her temperature started to climb. We received Ellie’s official diagnosis of a Rhabdoid Tumor on November 5th. It is an aggressive cancer and finding it in the liver occurs in about 1 in 2 million children.
The tumor is currently creating an excess of fluid in her abdomen as well as putting pressure on her diaphragm and other organs. She has started chemo and we have been approved for a trial drug that will specifically target the tumor; the goal is to shrink the tumor as much as possible before surgery, which will hopefully be scheduled around Christmas!
Ellie is a fighter and a favorite with the nurses, even when she’s asleep!
We have had such overwhelming support and love that we cannot begin to thank everyone. We have a long road ahead of us but we are hopeful and counting each day as a victory!
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Katie McGinnis
Organisateur
Goose Creek, SC
Stephanie Hanley
Bénéficiaire