Help Ellie fight Burkitt Lymphoma

On Sunday, August 14th, we joyfully celebrated Ellie's 4th birthday. The next night, we noticed the area around her left jaw and below her ear was swollen to the size of a tennis ball. We thought it was swollen lymph nodes. The next morning, we took her to urgent care, and then we were sent to Children's Hospital Colorado in Broomfield. After an ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI, we learned that the swelling was a mass. We moved to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora for further testing on the mass that evening.

After spending a few nights and doing many tests at CHCO in Aurora, Ellie was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma, a Mature B cell Lymphoma. We learned that the cancer is not in her spinal fluid or bones -- only in the mass in her jaw/neck area. This type of cancer can be treated with chemotherapy. The mass cannot be surgically removed because of its location. Burkitt is a fast growing but also a fast-dying cancer. Our hope is that Ellie's body responds well to the standard treatment for Burkitt and that she can be cured through the chemo. The treatment protocol includes 4-6 months of intensive chemotherapy treatments that will be very hard on Ellie.

Our primary doctor at CHCO developed the protocol Ellie is following to treat her lymphoma. He said there is a 95% cure rate. He anticipates mainly inpatient time at the hospital as she works her way through the different types of medicines. He expects fevers to spike. He anticipates multiple blood transfusions. It’s a hard process to get through, but a very good chance she will be cured in the end. “The Kitchen Sink” is the term they use to describe the treatment roadmap for Burkitt.

Ellie has to take oral medications day and night, some that taste awful. She has already endured multiple lumbar puncture chemo treatments under anesthesia. We do our best to help her cope and keep her comfortable through the side effects of the treatment, which include intense pain in the jaw, lower back, and legs. The doctor told us that the jaw pain is a sign that the mass is breaking up, which means the chemo has started doing its job!

Ellie’s stubbornness has been noted by the doctors as they ask us where she gets that from. She is a master negotiator and procrastinator, full of excuses and changing of subjects in attempts to delay and avoid all of the MANY things we are asking of her. She typically comes around but makes us work for it. She’s worth it :)

As of September 5th, Ellie has completed 2 rounds of treatments. We are in an approximate 2 week “break” between rounds 2 and 3. So far, we have been re-admitted twice within the first “break” week. The goal is to have the appropriate levels to start round 3. Treatments are expected to last through December - February and then there will be some recovery time needed.

We are so grateful for everyone's support, both near and far. So many of you have asked how you can help, so we decided to set up this gofundme to help with the costs of supplemental care for Ellie, meals, transportation, and other expenses that will make daily life easier so that Dawn Marie and I can focus on the only thing that matters - helping Ellie heal.

With love and gratitude,

Ellie, Alan, and Dawn Marie