Estelle is one of the prettiest, kindest and sassiest 4 year olds on the planet. She loves to sing, dance and play princesses with anyone who will give her the chance. During treatment she was hardly exposed to other kids her age so she loves playing with anyone and loves holding hands. She is kind and caring and smiles constantly. She truly is one of the most beautiful creatures God has created inside and out!

Estelle was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 15 months old. After Estelle turned one she began to get sick on and off with fevers, ear infections and colds. As the weeks went on she regressed in walking, developed abnormal bruising on her body, became extremely lethargic and would just sit and stare at her toys. Her parents knew that something was extremely wrong and she was taken to the ER on Thursday, September 17th 2015. That was when she was diagnosed with ALL  and her life-path totally changed. Her parents were told that if they’d waited any longer she could have died. Estelle finished her 2 1/2 years of treatment in January 2018 and continues to be on monthly checks to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back!

Estelle has endured endless bone marrow aspirations, spinal taps, blood draws, brain MRIs, hospital stays, finger pokes, clinic visits and 3 emergency visits due to seizures that could have taken her life. Sadly, her family will always face the fear of relapse. That will never go away. Added is the financial difficulties that arise from treatment and the normalcy of a regular life that is stolen from everyone without their choice. We live with hope, but those fears will never go away.

Estelle was diagnosed at the most formative time in a toddler’s life. She has regressed in walking, fine and gross motor skills, and has overall delays in physical development. To help her improve she goes to several hours of Occupational and Physical therapy and wears braces under her shoes that help her walk and improve her balance. As a side effect of the chemotherapy, she has developed some brain damage in her Basal Ganglia which controls fine motor skills. The doctors are hopeful that as she grows it will subside and that the continued therapy will help her build the natural abilities most kids easily attain.

There are positives and negatives to everything in life but cancer has changed us. Both mom and dad need to work to support the family. We know to live each day to the fullest and embrace the fact that we “got through it”…..but sometimes we are still scared. Estelle’s battle has reminded us how much life is a gift and no one should ever forget that. Even though we have been through a lot….staying positive is what gets us through. This attitude all started with Estelle. Her smile was contagious and it shed light over the dark every time.

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