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Help Eliza Fulfill her Bucket List

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Eliza's Journey
Eliza is my 20 year old amazing daughter.  In September 2014, at age 17, she was diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma.  After a grueling 16 months of treatment, Eliza was deemed to have no evidence of disease.  We were thrilled. 

Ringing the bell at the end of radiation treatment

After treatment and recovery,  Eliza worked very hard to finish her high school degree, apply to and prepare for college.  

Cousins

Eliza was quickly accepted to several colleges, including her number 1 college The New School (a film school), and planned to matriculate in September, 2017. Her scans were clear, and we had no idea that if a relapse was to occur, it would happen within one to two years.  

On April 7, 2017, Eliza awoke in terrible pain.  By Sunday the 9th, we learned her cancer had returned.  On Monday the 10th we learned that relapsed stage IV Neuroblastoma is not curable.

Eliza is currently receiving treatment to relieve her pain and slow down the progression of this terrible disease.  We are focusing on making the time she has left with us as meaningful to her and enjoyable as possible.  

Eliza's Dream
Eliza has two main passions: writing and traveling.  Our hope for this Gofundme page is to raise funds to enable her to realize her dreams:

Writing mentors: Eliza has an unending passion for writing.  As she wrote in her college essay, 

"In my darkest hours, writing helped keep me sane, whether it was outlining a screenplay, writing in my journal or writing a humorous blog to let my friends and family know I was okay. "


Eliza has already written several novels, poems, blogs and screenplays, and has so much more she wants to write.  

Too help her realize her dream, we are looking into writing workshops for her to attend  (Mom and Amanda will tag along if they are not in Massachusetts). We just re-arranged our house so Eliza can have her own writing studio (currently a work in progress).

More exciting, Eliza has the opportunity to work with two mentors from Bentley University who will help her refine her writing skills and edit her work, with the ultimate goal of publishing.

Travel:  For her entire life, Eliza has wanted to travel and experience the world. This has now become even more important. She currently has two trips she would like to take:

* Israel: Our wonderful cousins in Israel have invited our family (Eliza, her 16 yr old sister Amanda and me) to visit them in Israel in July, 2017. Eliza's doctors have given her permission to travel and are encouraging us to go. We are so excited and grateful for this tremendous opportunity.

* Los Angeles, California: We visited L.A. two years ago and Eliza fell in love.  Los Angeles, home to so many top film studios, is where Eliza has always seen herself, writing screenplays and making films. 


Animation Eliza created and submitted to a college scholarship contest

Estimated Expenses
To help Eliza realize her dream, we have estimated she will need about $11,000.  

Mentors: Eliza is very excited at the prospect of having mentors to help with her fiction (she is in the middle of writing a series of novels) and one to help her with her screenplays.  
* Estimated cost over multiple months: $3,000

Travel:
Israel: 
* Estimated travel expenses:  $5,000 

California:
*Estimated travel and living expenses: $3,000

If there are any extra funds, they will be applied to future trips/dreams for Eliza.

Our family - Eliza, Amanda and me (Mom)

Our familly

Eliza and Amanda

Goofing around at MGH


Our extended family

Friends

Friends

Mom and Eliza - cuddle time


Thank you so much for your kindness and love! Any donation is truly a blessing and will bring us one step closer to helping Eliza realize her dreams.


Eliza has a carepage which we use to update our loved ones about her medical situation.  You can reach it here:  http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ElizaMager

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Donations 

  • Joan Hantman
    • $15 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Kimberly Mager
Organizer
Westford, MA
Eliza Mager
Beneficiary

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