ELLIOTT’S BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER

You never know when you’re going to wake up one day with a brain tumor, so stop waiting to live your life until the timing seems right, and start living it NOW. Please help Elliott see his way through safety with his brain surgery and recovery so that he can continue to inspire others through his photography and his love of life.

Our amazing Elliott Howell is a 30-year-old travel, product, and brand photographer who was living a beautiful, full life until March 13. That Sunday night he had a seizure and within moments, his entire life changed. He was rushed to the hospital where he spent the next 20 hours undergoing all kinds of tests and scans, finally to discover that he has a massive 2.5-inch cancerous brain tumor. The tumor is in the left hemisphere of his brain and has likely been there for years, but has progressed rapidly within the last few months.

The neurosurgeon believes that Elliott may have stage 3 glioma, a rare brain cancer that is potentially life-threatening.

Elliott will have to undergo brain surgery on April 6, and he will be awake during the process. The surgeon and his team of neurologists will be working during the surgery to map Elliott’s brain using electrodes in order to determine what parts of the tumor they can safely remove without causing harm to his brain. The surgeon is unsure how much of the tumor he will be able to remove until they are in there testing it out. If all of the tumor cannot safely be taken out, Elliott will have to go through radiation and chemotherapy to get rid of what is left. Radiation will last for a couple of months and chemotherapy will be from 6 months up to 1 year.

Despite the shattering news that would put most people in the deepest and darkest place of despair, Elliott remains incredibly strong, positive, and hopeful for his surgery and for his future. His strength and perseverance are things the rest of us can only aspire to have – even on the best of days.

As Elliott undergoes this surgery and the recovery that comes after, he will be unable to work for anywhere from 6 weeks up to many months, potentially even longer if chemotherapy proves to be the only option. Following the surgery, he will likely have to learn how to speak again, as well as re-educate himself, Billy Madison-style. Elliott will also be on a specific diet to keep his body as healthy as possible as it undergoes the stress of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He will be working with naturopathic doctors as well to see how he can join Western and Eastern medicine to see him through his healing journey back to a place of health.

Anyone who knows Elliott knows him to be a source of love and light that brings joy to everyone around him. Even in the midst of this tumor nightmare, he remains strong, positive, and selfless. A friend said that only those who are strong enough to handle something as terrifying as a brain tumor are chosen to endure this kind of journey, and Elliott has proven to be more strong than ever in these last few weeks. That strength will surely continue despite the hardships that lie in his future.

Friends, family, and even strangers who are moved by Elliott’s story – we kindly ask for your donations to help ease the financial burden and stress placed on Elliott during the time that he is not able to work. As a freelance photographer, Elliott only gets paid when he’s able to work, and the surgery, along with the potential radiation and chemotherapy, will require Elliott to take a break from his work. Any help you are able to provide gives Elliott the ability to focus on his care, health, and healing rather than his medical and day-to-day bills while going through this incredibly challenging time.

Elliott would love for people to also keep him in mind for future travel, product, and brand photo needs. You can click here to see his portfolio of work . He also has prints for sale that are available here .

We greatly appreciate any monetary donation or support of his photography work throughout this healing journey.

But what is most important is the prayers that will keep Elliott safe. So, whether you are called to donate or not, we ask that you please keep Elliott in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this uncertain time.

And, if there’s one thing you take away from reading Elliott’s story, we hope that it’s to stop waiting for the perfect moment to live your life; stop waiting for everything to align perfectly to take that job or embark on that adventure. You never know when you may wake up with brain cancer, so start living your life NOW.

We so deeply appreciate your love, thoughts, and prayers.

Love,

Elliott’s Friends, Family, and Loved Ones