Hello everyone! My name is Kellee and recently my niece was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia. We are setting up the GoFundMe to help support time off for her parents along with medical bills that should arise over the next few years. If anybody is willing to help this family in their time of need, it would be greatly appreciated.
Below is Ella’s story in her mom and dad's words.
If you’re seeing this, thank you for your acceptance to stay informed about our daughter Ella.
A little back story, Ella was seen at a 4-year-old wellness check. Coincidentally, Ella was a little sick with a runny nose, slight cough, and a slightly elevated fever. She was diagnosed with an ear infection and strep, then was prescribed amoxicillin. Her mom, April, asked to have a CBC done, just for a check-up because it was noticed she had some small, tiny bruises that seemed to take long to heal. When we followed up last Friday, some critical markers were low on the results, and the pediatrician had a second opinion review with hematology/oncology and recommended going to Wolfson Children's Hospital ER so they could get results from labs faster, instead of a referral.
Once there, they brought us back as they were already expecting us. Her new labs showed a drop in some of those critical markers, so she was admitted. A brief talk before all results were in from an oncologist prepped us with possibilities. Ella was asymptomatic the entire time! Viral suppression, some form of anemia, or the dreaded C word! But we would have to wait. We then moved to a general room. Ella was given blood products and other meds and liquids in preparation.
Yesterday morning, hematology/oncology stopped in to talk with us. They thoroughly explained what they were looking at and based on the blood smear, they found abnormalities and had a second review from specialists in Georgia. Upon results, they believed Ella has B-cell leukemia and will be treated following a bone marrow biopsy done tomorrow. At the same time, they will put in a port in her chest for treatment access. Ella has been and still remains in very good spirits! No dietary restrictions and remains asymptomatic.
As a father, along with her mother, this is the last thing you want your little 4-year-old girl to have to go through! We’ve had many emotional moments and we’ve had laughs with Ella! It’s hard to have to explain this to a child who doesn’t quite understand. But we have made it thus far, and will continue to support Ella in this journey! It’s gonna be hard! It’s gonna be tough!! But the doctors are very optimistic about her and her treatment! This has a >90% success rate in treatment, and the doctors and medical staff here have been great!! It’s not the news any parent wants to hear, but we know we are not alone in this! We walk with Jesus!! And we will continue to pray her journey is led by Him! We will pray to be the best parents to help our daughter through this. It’ll be a tough 2.5 years with the first 6 months being the hardest! But we got this! Ella has got this!! And we have a great medical and support team with us!
We just ask for continuous prayers for Ella! That her treatments go well and her body responds like it should! Thank you for supporting Ella and we will update her journey here from time to time! ❤️