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2 year old daughter with Neuroblastoma!!
Cody and LeAnn Amdahl of Flandreau,SD need your help. They are a young couple with 2 children. Theie 2 year old daughter, Liberty, was diagnosed with a rare children's cancer called neuroblastoma at the age of 18 months,in August of last year. Since that time she has been fighting with use of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, feeding tube, and multiple tests and so much more. She has been in and out of the hospital on a continual basis as treatments continue. LeAnn spends all of her time with her daughter and Cody spends as much time as possible while trying to work. The expenses are astronomical and they need your help. LeAnn lost her job as an RN so insurance is in jeopardy. The treatments continued but the news is not good as the tumors continue to grow and spread. Go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/libertyamdahl for her full story and pictures. Cody and LeAnn are a beautiful Christian family and so inspiring as they continue to stay positive for their daughters, Liberty 2 and Elodie 5. The community has been very supportive and have had many fund raisers but it doesn't begin to cover the costs of all their expenses. They have traveled to Children's Hospital in Minnesota for stem cell harvesting but they returned and the tumors had increased in size and they were not able to replant them back for Liberty. They are now going to a specialist for neuroblastoma at a Children's Hospital in Michigan but to date the results have not been positive. We continue to pray for a miracle for Liberty. She has been granted a Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyworld but may never get to fullfill the dreams. Liberty is a very energetic little girl and runs and plays whenever she feels well enough to do so all the time wearing a backpack for the feeding tube. It is so sad to see what all this little child is going through and it breaks your heart every time you hear there was more bad news. This is a very deserving family and I pray that you will be able to help them. I watch your show every day and you are the most generous, warm and loving person and I pray that you will help this very deserving family. Thank you!!!
HELLO ELLEN MY NAME IS SIDNEY HIGH I LOVE YOUR SHOW SO MUCH I WROTE U A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BUT I STILL LOVE U IM TRYING TO NOMINATE MY MOM BECAUSE SHES THE BEST I NEED HELP DOING THIS SO CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME (908)824-7250 THATS MY NUMBER THANKS
Hi, Ellen
I love your show, you are a very beautiful in spirit. As I write this my eyes are filled with tears. I am a single mother of 6 children 2 boys 4 girls. I am very proud of each of them and this journey has been long with good times and bad but we have made it over many mountains. I have a four year old who has vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of the skin producing white patches. Two years ago her skin pigmentation started to decrease on her face leaving white patches from her eyes to ears to her mouth and cheeks, at first she never noticed the spots as they appeared and we made no big deal out of it. She is a beautiful little girl with a big heart and spirits. The patches grew bigger and last year she noticed something was wrong as she looked in the mirror and taking pictures of herself she was different. She cried stating “I do not want to be two different colors" she just wanted to be brown. I relocated with my mom in September because I had been unemployed for a year prior due to my own health issues that came suddenly and I was unaware of these conditions. Being in the state that I was in going back and fourth to the doctors, I never received the help I am receiving now from the dermatologist. Two months ago she started receiving UV light therapy 3 times a week, she goes into a UV light box for a few minutes and each visits the time increases until progress is shown and this process can take a year or more. I am very grateful and appreciative for the help she gets from the dermatologists she has now. In this battle it has been very hard for me to find employment that can accommodate the schedule that I have for her. She does attend 3 times a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She does have good days and bad days There are only 2 things that I so desire and that is clearing up my school and personal debt so that I can start my own business and work around her schedule, so that I may continue to be there with my daughter 3 times a week since there is only me. I am a true entrepreneur and go getter that my business idea I know will prosper and grow beyond what I have visioned. Being unemployed puts a lot of extra stress on me as a mother. In July of 2012
I purchased a car from a close friend who knew I was relocating and the automobile would be used for my family as well as to transport my daughter to and from her therapy appointments. The plates on the automobile expired in September 2012 and I have no title to the car as of yet, so I can not anything with the car it just sits Medicaid transportation is something I just preferred not to do, it is very time consuming for a 3 minute turns into a 2 hour appointment. The one hour pick up time before the appointment and the one hour pick up time after the appointment. There are days that are bad for her were she doesn’t like to get into the light box, nor ride with transportation because of the delays and waiting period. My heart is heavy because it has taken me these two years to get my daughter the proper assistance she needs and being a child this young it’s difficult for other people to understand her condition. People do stare sometimes, kids look as if they are afraid and I know it’s only because they are unaware of what Vitiligo is. So I nominate myself just for a break through, I really try every day to see myself in a better position and for the most part I can and then there are those days where it seems there is no hope.
A blessing and break through.
I'm not nominating a particular person for a car. I'm in need of a car to help my family. Right now I drive my husband's 1999 two seat truck which has a tranny problem. I use it to take my husband to the train station, my sister to work, my mom to the doctor, food shopping and anything else I need to do locally every Thursday thru Sunday morning. Otherwise, my daughter who is a school teacher in brooklyn, comes to pick me up on long island every Sunday night to babysit my 5month old grandson and then she drives me home again every Wednesday night. When I have to take my dad to the heart specialist I need to take my mother with me - so I need more seats....so first I drive out east with the truck, borrow my mother in laws car, drive back to take dad to the doctor, then drive back out east to return her car.....it's crazy!
I'm unemployed, lost my job last year and have not been able to find anything else. My husband works in manhattan, and makes good money, but he supports he two daughters from a previous marriage and pays for their college educations as well so his salary is cut in half by the time he gets home....We barely make ends meet. I'm not looking for anything fancy...in fact I would even be happy with a loaner until I get a job and can afford to pay for a car on my own....I just need to help my family....that's all I want to do.
I just spent a lovely afternoon with my boyfriends niece (age 22) who suffers from Krohns disease. She is in college and works at her mothers newly opened gym. I was so taken by her attitude and inspired by her desire to stay healthy, work hard, learn for her piers and experience life in the best way she can. In our conversations this afternoon, she mentioned how badly she needed a car to get to work and school. She is truly an amazing young lady who has chosen a healthy lifestyle and is committed to doing good in the world. With so many youth falling apart she was a breath of fresh air to me! I salute her work, health and desire to help an aging community stay healthy. She is a certified silver sneakers instructor! I'd love to see her get a car and promote her inspiration to beat the disease she battles with daily. There is more to know from het about a cell disease but I can't remember the whole thing. You should give her a chance!
Hi Ellen :)I want to tell you about an amazing woman, My mom :) She's no ordinary mom that's for sure. She broke her neck in 1959 and has been in a wheelchair ever since. She was in the paralympics and has even broke a world record. She won a "no limits" award from Canadain Parapalegic Assoc. She is on many boards to help the disabled and is a wheelchair squaredance caller. Her motto is "There's no such thing as can't" She has kids, works, has been married for 51 years to my Dad who can't drive anymore. There are so many accomplishments in my mom's life I can't list them all. She never asks for help and is always there to help people. She was Hurt again about 6 years ago and had to re-learn how to be disabled :( My mom used to drive her own van, be able to get out of bed on her own and use the facilitys by her self. Now my mom needs help to get in and out of bed. She can't drive her van anymore because it is not equipted for her new wheelchair or her not being able to transfer seats like she used to. I am writing to ask your help in getting my mom a Van equipted for her new challenges and help a wonderful amazing woman get some of her independance back. Thank you so much for reading my story and I really hope you can help us because we can't afford to buy a new van for my parents.I will post the link to the video/song of my mom when she won her award and her life on your facebook page I will tiltle it "MY Mom Sharon" from Rebecca Long
Hi Ellen. Today, I am nominating the strongest, most dedicated, most selfless person I know. That incredible woman is my mom. For my entire life, all nineteen years, I have heard the phrase “life isn’t fair, get used to it.” And for most of those years I believed that life was only unfair to those who gave up hope. Nevertheless, I was a child, an inexperienced and spoiled kid, and I was naïve to reality. But I didn’t know that an evil monster was living inside of my mother, a monster that would change my life and my family’s life forever. This monster is my enemy. It has threatened to take my mom away from my family, from this earth, three times now. I despise it. I loathe it. I cherish every moment I have with my mom because I know how dangerous the monster can be and how it has the power to take her away from me. And ever since the first time she defeated it, I have been scared of the possibility that it could come back. My mom has beaten breast cancer twice - the first time in her breast, and the second time in her spine - because she is a warrior. The strongest warrior I know. Two years ago, colon cancer killed my aunt, who was not just my mom’s sister, but also her very best friend. We miss her very much. And a few weeks ago I learned that my mom’s breast cancer has come back for the third time, even more aggressive than before, in her liver and her lung. When I first heard this information, I was scared and I was angry. It was the third upbringing of anxiety, of not knowing. The third diagnosis, the third round of chemotherapy, and even more surgeries. It was a recurrence of cancer entering my family once again. Cancer, the monster that hurts us so badly, yet binds us so tightly. At that point I began to give up, just like the people I used to pity for believing that life isn’t fair. But my mom dusted herself off and prepared for battle, ready for anything and everything, ready to fight. She is so strong, and so determined, and will never give up. And that is why she is my hero. I believe in her. And she believes in me. She is always telling me to keep my eye on the prize while I’m away at college, and I am doing my best to make her proud. When I went home for spring break, my mom told me that she has two wishes. One wish is to be here in three years from now, to see me walk across the stage and earn my degree. The other wish is to one day go to Ellen’s show. At first, this made me laugh, because it seemed so silly compared to the battle we are facing. But then I realized that your show has been a huge inspiration in her life. She watches it almost every day, especially when she’s feeling down or sick in bed, going through treatment. And no matter what, you always make her laugh and brighten her day. Your show feeds her optimism and her inner warrior. So thank you so much. You may not have known it, but over the years you have helped my mom beat cancer twice, and I hope we can defeat it once again. It would be a dream come true if you could find room for my invincible soldier of a mom, (Jennifer Romack) and her very supportive partner, my other mom (Julie Pullen) in your audience someday soon, because that would put a huge smile on my mother’s face, and I think that she deserves at least one wish come true.
Dear Ellen,
Hi my name is Shannon Murphy, I am one of seven kids in my family with 5 sisters and one brother. We are from St. Louis, Missouri. On Friday I received a call from my older sister Erin that changed my entire world. She told me that we had a crisis, when I first heard these words I thought the crisis was going to be something about shoes or something with her boyfriend. She then told me that my older sister Lauren was struck by a car in LA that morning and it was not good. We didn’t know any of the details besides that it wasn’t good. Here is a brief summary of what happened Friday and how she is doing.
Early Friday morning (April 19, 2013), Lauren was running in Los Angeles and was hit by a car while crossing the street. A policewoman told my parents that Lauren was crossing Hollywood Blvd at Fuller when the accident happened. The man who hit her was holding her hand and talking to her until the ambulance arrived. Lauren was carrying her American Express credit card with her on her run, and this is how they were able to identify her. She is being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. Our parents, grandma and a few, close, family friends are with her now. Overall, her status is described as extremely critical but stable. She had brain surgery and had to remove part of her skull because of the swelling. They also had to take a part of her brain on the left frontal lobe out to save her life.
My parents, grandma, and some of our closest family friends are with Lauren at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but since I am one of seven it is very hard and expensive for all of us to fly to LA to see our beautiful sister. Some of our amazing friends and family started this recovery fund for my sister that has reached over $50,000 in 8 days, absolutely amazing. The amount of love and support we have from our family and friends is incredible.
Laurens best friend, Courtney, who is with her right now, is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She has been by Laurens side this entire time and writes on their blog that they have together called http://www.lifeofthelucys.com/. All of her blog posts make me laugh and cry the most but it is what honestly gets me through each day. She is absolutely incredible and the best friend in the world.
Now about Lauren, she is the most giving and selfless person in the world. I graduated from high school last year and she couldn’t make it because she lives in New York so she paid for a plane ticket for me to come to NY and have the best week of my life with my best friend. That is just the kind of person Lauren is. She is always giving. Lauren followed her dreams after a horrible break up when her and her best friend packed all their bags and moved to New York City. While living in New York she worked for Bloomingdales and then Brooks Brothers. And Ellen, I know how you love Brooks Brothers and wear it all the time!! Lauren is a little fashionista and I look up to her in so many ways. She has more determination than any women I’ve ever known. I know she will get through this because she is so strong. I just wanted to share my sister’s story with you because she sure is amazing.
Even earlier today Taylor Swift came and visited my sister and parents! Taylor is truly amazing just like my beautiful sister! If you can help us out in any way i would love you forever! Even though I already do!
P.S. Ellen, I watch your show every single day and if I can’t catch it on TV I watch it on YouTube every single night! I love you so much and just wanted you to hear about how wonderful my sister and family are!
Love Always,
Shannon Murphy
Dear Ellen,
Hi my name is Shannon Murphy, I am one of seven kids in my family with 5 sisters and one brother. We are from St. Louis, Missouri. On Friday I received a call from my older sister Erin that changed my entire world. She told me that we had a crisis, when I first heard these words I thought the crisis was going to be something about shoes or something with her boyfriend. She then told me that my older sister Lauren was struck by a car in LA that morning and it was not good. We didn’t know any of the details besides that it wasn’t good. Here is a brief summary of what happened Friday and how she is doing.
Early Friday morning (April 19, 2013), Lauren was running in Los Angeles and was hit by a car while crossing the street. A policewoman told my parents that Lauren was crossing Hollywood Blvd at Fuller when the accident happened. The man who hit her was holding her hand and talking to her until the ambulance arrived. Lauren was carrying her American Express credit card with her on her run, and this is how they were able to identify her. She is being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. Our parents, grandma and a few, close, family friends are with her now. Overall, her status is described as extremely critical but stable. She had brain surgery and had to remove part of her skull because of the swelling. They also had to take a part of her brain on the left frontal lobe out to save her life.
My parents, grandma, and some of our closest family friends are with Lauren at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but since I am one of seven it is very hard and expensive for all of us to fly to LA to see our beautiful sister. Some of our amazing friends and family started this recovery fund for my sister that has reached over $50,000 in 8 days, absolutely amazing. The amount of love and support we have from our family and friends is incredible.
Laurens best friend, Courtney, who is with her right now, is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She has been by Laurens side this entire time and writes on their blog that they have together called http://www.lifeofthelucys.com/. All of her blog posts make me laugh and cry the most but it is what honestly gets me through each day. She is absolutely incredible and the best friend in the world.
Now about Lauren, she is the most giving and selfless person in the world. I graduated from high school last year and she couldn’t make it because she lives in New York so she paid for a plane ticket for me to come to NY and have the best week of my life with my best friend. That is just the kind of person Lauren is. She is always giving. Lauren followed her dreams after a horrible break up when her and her best friend packed all their bags and moved to New York City. While living in New York she worked for Bloomingdales and then Brooks Brothers. And Ellen, I know how you love Brooks Brothers and wear it all the time!! Lauren is a little fashionista and I look up to her in so many ways. She has more determination than any women I’ve ever known. I know she will get through this because she is so strong. I just wanted to share my sister’s story with you because she sure is amazing.
Even earlier today Taylor Swift came and visited my sister and parents! Taylor is truly amazing just like my beautiful sister! If you can help us out in any way i would love you forever! Even though I already do!
P.S. Ellen, I watch your show every single day and if I can’t catch it on TV I watch it on YouTube every single night! I love you so much and just wanted you to hear about how wonderful my sister and family are!
Love Always,
Shannon Murphy
Dear Ellen, I have watched your show for many years and really enjoy it. You can always make me laugh and I am glad there are people like you willing to help without expecting anything in return. My name is Welking Yumary Funes Oliva and I am eighteen years old. I am a really big fan of yours and I am glad that Mr. Andrew Stanton and Disney Pixar have finally decided to make a sequel to Finding Nemo. When I first heard of it, I was confused. I didn’t see how Nemo would get lost again, so I appreciate you explaining in one of your recent shows that it’s Dory that is lost now.
Much like Nemo, I've had trouble finding my way in life. There's a long hard road behind me and an even bigger journey ahead of me. I would like to start by telling you my journey to finding myself. I grew up in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with my great grandmother. My mother immigrated to America weeks after I was born, but I didn’t know that. After years of thinking I was my grandmother’s daughter and a only child, I talked to my mother on the phone and learned the truth about my birth. When I was five, my mother got truly upset with my great grandmother because of the way she explained things to me. They never agreed on the reasons I lived with my grandmother, so my mother decided to come back and take me from my great grandmother. For some years, we lived in her father’s home with my other two sisters, but she soon became pregnant one again and decided to immigrate to America, leaving me once again. This time, she took with her the oldest and the youngest of her four daughters leaving me and my sister Vanessa in the hands of my aunt.
Everything was going well until she decided she wanted my sister and I to go live with her to America. By then, I was in fifth grade and had a scholarship to study in America. but in my country these things take time and my mother did not wish to wait. She decided to hire someone to show us the way. One morning, my sister, uncle, and I got up early, packed a few things, and were our way. We didn’t know what was going on. We traveled by bus, car, and even a plane. They told us to memorize phone numbers and to say we were from different places. We were successful; getting to Mexico and some weeks later. Shoes and new clothes were bought for us to wear. They told us to stay hydrated and gave us cans of tuna for the road. We were sent into the desert with a guide, who would take care of both my sister and I. At this time, I was only ten years old and Vanessa was only two years older. We walked three hot mornings in the desert without making stops and with little water. Sometimes, we were helped and pulled along by other members of our group who traveled to the same destination. The nights were cold and we had no blankets or a safe place to sleep, but we made it through two horrible nights. After that nightmare that exhausted me and claimed a few of my toe nails, we arrived to Los Angeles. We were given new clothing once more and sent to Florida, where a family that we did not now would pick us up and take up to our mother.
We stayed with our grandparent and aunts for some time. We celebrated my birthday two days after we arrived. After a while, we moved to South Carolina, where I have lived since. From the beginning, things at home were not good. I didn’t fit into the picture and my mother was not what I was used to. She never had time for me and didn’t express much interest in being around me. Because of that, I kept to myself most of the time.
I went to school, but I had to repeat the fifth grade because of the lack of knowledge I had in the English language. Luckily, I learned quickly. After a while, though, I stopped caring about some things. I was tired of my mother comparing me to my oldest sister, Vanessa, who got pregnant at fifteen. Soon after that, Vanessa moved out and now lives with father of the child who is now five. Two years later, my oldest sister had another child and moved out with a boyfriend she had. She partied and drank too much. One night, she got stopped by the police and was deported to Honduras, where she soon got pregnant again. After that, mom worked at a factory. She took in the two babies her oldest daughter left here and I cooked, cleaned, and did everything for them while my mother worked nights. She would watch them until I got home from school, then I could cook and take care of them, so she would get up out of bed, shower, eat, and leave for work returning later in the morning. When I was entering school, I would leave the kids with her boyfriend, but he was never much help. He always had to go do jobs, but never helped out with money for bills or with chores around the house. Until I was almost eighteen, it was I who helped my little sister with their homework, who cooked for all of us, and kept the house clean. About three months before I was eighteen, I moved out of her house. Even though I have not been the perfect daughter, I was always there to help her. Unfortunately, all she ever did was criticize me and refuse to appreciate what I did. I lived with some friends at first, and then moved in with my sister, Vanessa, who kindly took me in. Due to school and paper work, I had to go back and forth form Edgemoor, South Carolina, and Rock Hill, South Carolina, where I attended Northwestern High School. I moved out of my sister’s house once more to be closer to school. I got hired at a hotel as a housekeeper and was soon promoted to front desk agent. Everything was going well for me for some time. I met the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with and earned enough money to pay a lawyer to open an immigration case to fix my immigration status. This year, I was legalized and I choose to move back with my sister and finish my senior year at Lewisville High School in Richburg, South Carolina. I plan to attend college and major in business and hospitality. I have recently applied for a drivers permit and I am proud to say that I have passed the test and am currently learning to drive, but I face the problem of not owning a car. I no longer work because of some problems I had at work and I find myself writing this letter to you ask as you for help. I would like to own a car and go to college like most Americans and I know I’ll have to work hard for it. If there’s one thing watching your show has taught me, it’s that there is good to be found in every situation, no matter what. Your show always makes me happy and lets me get away from the hardships of life with you humor and guest stars. Any advice or assistance you could offer would mean the world to me, and for all you already give me, thank you, Ellen.
Your fan,Welking Yumary Funes Oliva
Hi Ellen,
I love your show. I watch it every day. And every day I see all the wonderful people you help and its very touching. What an amazing person you are to reach out to these people and help.
I am a proud woman. But I am willing to do anything for my family. So I am asking for your help.
I am married to an amazing man and father to my two beautiful children. I have a little boy who is soon to be 4 named Cameron and a beautiful little girl named Charlotte. She just turned one a few weeks ago. Charlotte is the reason why I am asking you for help. But here is a little back story about our family from the beginning of me and my husbands relationship til now.
Me and my husband have been together for eight years now. Started dating in high school. Of course fell in love and started our lives together. We went to college together. We had good jobs and decided renting wasn't for us anymore and bought a house just three months before our wedding I. March of 2008. We were so excited to have a home and call it ours. We were so ready to build our life together. We had already had some obstacles in our relationship. I had a misscarried about a year before. I felt it made our relationship stronger. We pushed through it though it was hard. So we bought the house. Then three months later in June was our
Wedding. Amazing wedding. Then off to our honeymoon to Mexico we go! But unfortunately while we were there our newly remideled house we just bought was now flooded. We lived in cedar rapids Iowa. The 2008 flood was terrible and devasted the town. This was our biggest obstacle at that point for us to overcome. Which we did. We rebuilt and gleaned up. But having to get a second mortgage was tough. Then finding out I was pregnant and due almost exactly a year after our wedding. We were ecstatic. But then another obstacle. Doctors thought my son had down syndrome. After many many tests and lots of money spent...he was perfectly normal and we cldnt have been happier. But then the bills came flooding in on top of two mortgages already. It was tough. One year after our son was born we had to make the decision to move back to our home town and to file bankruptcy on our house because we could not afford it. I felt as if we were taking fifty steps back. But I knew it was what we had to do. So we came home. My parents bought a house and put it in their names so we couldhave a nice place to live. And we just make the payments. Life was getting better. We were happy to be home and happy to have my parents around so they could be a big part of our sons life. After that I had two more miscarriages. It was hard. But I feel that I am a strong woman and I pushed through it. We knew we wanted another child. And then it finally happened. My doctors were great and got me on the right treatment plan to sustain my pregnancy. And everything was going great. We had some bumps in the road. I had a bloodclot attached to sac but Dr. Assured me it would dissolve and cause no harm. And it did. Then came the ultrasound. And we were having a girl! I felt my life was complete. We were so happy. And then of course we come across another obstacle. They found a mass on my baby's heart. They were not sure what it was. But they did tell me it was an indicator of downs. My first thought...really? They are trapping telling me this again? Of course I was angry. All I wanted was a healthy baby and normal pregnancy. I then got referred to the university of Iowa. They monitored me and my baby while I was still pregnant and having ultrasounds to monitor the mass. They were unsure what it was. They wanted to see baby Charlotte a month after she was born. In the beginning they thought it was a tumor that would dissolve over time. But after several appointments and echoes, they were seeing no change. This is when I started to get frustrated and wanted answers. I wanted testing to be done. We wanted to know what it was so we could figure out what we needed to do. So it was December 2012. By then Charlotte was nine months old. She had delayed development. Which was a big concern for me. Because I felt we were wasting more time not getting the assistance she needed. They thought with the combo of the mass and delayed development, that she may have tuberous sclerosis. Which wld make the tumor be one ghat dissolves over time. But the disease was nothing you could do anything about. They decided to do a MRI of her brain and heart. At this point we were talking to neurologists and cardiologists. Me and my husband were scared. I felt helpless for her. All I could do was fight tor her. To make sure she was getting all the care and tests she needed. Inside I felt consuumed by it. It was all I thought about and I worried so much. It was a waiting game tor answers. They did the MRI. Waited a week or so. After talking to the Dr.s and not getting straight answers I was frustrated. I knew they cldnt tell me everything for sure at that point. They held a large meeting within the cardiology department to figure out what this mass was. They were unsure. But they did know at this point...that it was not a tumor that would dissolve and go away itself. They had came to the conclusion that it was a tumor called a Papillary fibroelastoma. This is a rare tumor usually found in adults over the age of sixty. Which unturned makes ut extremely rare for children. My Dr. Was amazing. She was researching articles and she was not having much luck of any related diagnosises of children with it. I then decided to get another opinion from the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. They were unsure of what it was. They told us that there are only ten reported cases of this type of tumor found in children. And they were overseas. They said since it was so rare they were not sure if that is what she had. I was frustrated. Because I feltthe doctor was not compassionate. They were throwing it out just because of how rare if was. I felt as if they did not take it seriously and that my daughter was just another case. Nothing important. We then sent all her tests and information to Boston children's hospital. They are number one in the country for pediatrics cardioligy. During this whole time I was was a director at a child care center. I was running a business and fighting for my daughter. Emotionally I was drained. I couldn't do everything. I felt powerless. And to top it off I could not keep my daughter healthy. I had her out of daycare for roughly three weeks so she could stay healthy to get the mri. She went back for one day and got severely sick again. Her immune system was down. Between the appointments for her heart and the. Being sick each week I was at my breaking point. I knew I cldnt work and do everything she needed. Because on top of that she was going to be beginning physical therapy because of her gross motor delay. In mid January I had to quit my job. I was devastated by it. I felt terrible. I felt as if I were letting them down. I enjoyed it so much. But I knew I needed to focus on Charlotte. So I resigned. They understood and were very supportive. They were so great to let me keep my son in preschool with no charge. That way he could still have his routine and be able to play with his friends. We then got word back from Boston and they agree with u of Iowa that it is a papillary fibroelastoma. Which I realused now that I did not explain what it was. The papillary fibroelastoma is located on her mitral valve. That is valve that opens and closes and sends blood through her heart. This is a life threatening tumor. It could embolize and cause a heart attack, stroke or sudden death. Boston recommended surgery. And we have a choice to go to them or u of Iowa. We decided to stay with university of Iowa because it would be a lot easier doing the surgery closer to home. Boston recommended she have surgery when she weighs 26 lbs. That way reducing the risk of multiple surgeries and damaging her mitral valve because everything would be bigger and easier to work with. Right now she weighs about 24 lbs. She will be having open heart surgery this summer once she gets to weight. I am so ready for all of this to be done and over with. I have worried since I was pregnant with her as to what was wrong. Every day I wake up and I am scared that she wont wake. There are times I wake before her and I am scared to death to go in her room and find her not breathing. I am ready for the doctors to get rid of this nasty thing so we can move on with our lives.
But this is why I need help from you. With me not working because I need to be home with Charlotte is hard.
My husband Corey works six days a week as a mechanic and does side jobs when he can just to get us by. I have no idea what we will do when its time fir her surgery. Because she will need both of her parents through this whole process. He doesn't have any vacation time left. And she will need to be in the hospital at least a couple weeks. I need my husband there. And he will have to be there for our son as well. I will not leave the hospital. I will be there at all times with her. We have great parents that will too. Ellen I am asking for your help because I am desperate and in need. We don't have the credit because our hose flooded or I would apply for a loan. We are just out of options and can barely get by. I would be so grateful for you to help my baby and our family through this very difficult time and through all of her recovery and months to come.
Thank you so much for listening to a piece of our life story.
Sincerely,
Whitney
Hi Ellen! I've been a big fan of your show for a long time, and I know someone who definetly deserves to be on your show. Chelsie Taylor, a single mom who has taken it upon herself to start a charity called "We Can Make Change" Chelsie and her team of teens are collecting cans and bottles to build a well in Africa. But as with everything, she has encountered quite a few problems. Most of her problems come from her Van. Her van is constantly braking down or in the shop and that means she can't collect bottles and it makes her much harder to reach the goal. That's where you come in. Chelsie really needs a new van and can't afford to pay it. We need you Ellen! You aren't just helping her, but an entire village in Africa. Please have Chelsie and her team on your show! We love you!
My son's school secretary sent the following information to a co-worker, who forwarded it on to the school's track team of which my son is a member. I want to help this boy so badly, but I am financially strapped. Then I thought of Ellen; if anyone can help a deserving young person FROM THE NEW ORLEANS AREA!!!, it's Ellen :) Here's the message we received:
Some of you know that I was the Homeless Liaison for St. Tammany Parish Schools before coming to St. Paul’s. In that capacity, I met some wonderful kids who were trying to make the best out of the hand life had dealt them. I am fortunate to remain in contact with a few of those students.
I am hoping you may know of an inexpensive garage apartment or of someone who might be willing to rent a bedroom to a young man of excellent character. He can’t afford much – maybe $300-$400/month. If you know of a nice person who needs a roommate to share apartment expenses, that might be an option. I should mention he has a dog. That’s not a good selling point for a desperate kid seeking shelter, I know, but this pet is the only constant in his life and offers him the unconditional love he so greatly needs.
This is a little of his story:
Both the mother and grandmother of this young man have substance abuse issues. The father was never in his life. He was raised by a great-grandmother who suffered from numerous medical problems. I’m convinced she lived as long as she did only because of her great love for him. She kept him away from the influence of her daughter and granddaughter and raised him to be polite, considerate, caring, and drug-free. You won’t meet a finer, more courteous, more deserving young man anywhere.
While living with his great-grandmother, he was considered homeless because of their substandard housing. The summer before he entered high school, they finally found adequate, affordable housing. Shortly afterwards, however, the great-grandmother died; and he became truly homeless. For a couple of years, he was “sofa-surfing” -- moving from place-to-place for a few days or weeks at a time.
During his junior year of high school, he found a roommate and the two of them rented an apartment. When he wasn’t in school, he was working to support himself.
More than anything, he wanted to play football, but he had no time to be a regular high school kid. It was actually the parent of a St. Paul’s student who learned of his situation and paid his rent during his senior year. When he found out he would be able to play football again, he cried. He wasn’t a great player; but he loved the sport, and he wanted to feel part of a team. On senior night, it was his coach who stood beside him on the field because he had no parents there to support him.
He is now at Southeastern studying to be a nurse. Last semester he had a 3.8 GPA. He studies in the library until it closes Monday through Thursday nights. He works at a local restaurant on Friday nights and two shifts on Saturdays and Sundays to support himself.
Again, if you know of someone who might be willing to rent a room or a garage apartment for between $300-$400 a month, he thinks he can swing that; or if you know of a dependable person who would like to share an apartment, that might work as well.
Thank you for any ideas or suggestions you might have.
You asked if there’s anything else needed. Actually, yes. Please pass this information along to anyone who may be able to assist. The restaurant where he currently works has changed management. The new guy is not as accommodating about the school schedule. Our young man is hoping to find a new job with a more understanding supervisor. Since he changed his work schedule to weekends only, his grades have improved dramatically because he studies at school every week night until the library closes. Maintaining the good grades is important to him. If anyone knows of a weekend job he might apply for anywhere in the Hammond/Covington/Mandeville areas, please let me know. It doesn’t have to be in a restaurant. He is open to anything. Also, he would probably be able to work more during the summer.
If this were a perfect world, which our guy knows better than most that it’s not, he would love to live and work in Hammond where he could feel more like a “normal” college student.
God bless you for your interest in this young man. I hope you can meet him some day. You will fall in love!
I recently underwent a surgical procedure that went wrong. I had a part of my small intestine removed and spent almost a month in the hospital. I lost my job and now my bills are piling up. I can't afford prescriptions and medical care that I need. Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
3/23/13 More than a week now since his death at 51; our daughter's hubby Kerry sur***bed to cancer after a 3 year battle. The young couple impressed all at the Froedtert Hospital Cancer Center. Kerry worked until 3 weeks before; intent with work ethic to provide for our eldest daughter Kim who herself deals with side effects of spinal lymphoma 8 years ago which left her paralyzed. A 10 hour surgery then gave her the ability to walk again; but with chemo and radiation, lung complications set in. Now with Kerry's death, her insurance stops in three months with preexisting conditions preventing new policy. How will she provide for herself with only a small disability income. Both gave such example to others of love and courage. The entire hospital wept; not fair to have two so aflicted. Always the miracles inbetween the worry...son flown home from his naval ship by the Red Cross; a fund raiser given by the work community. Amazing volume of medical bills ac***mulated. Will she now loose her Dutch decorated small home?
I think of our Kim at age 3; deciding to ride her tricycle across a gravel driveway in bare feet. It took guts and determination...but she did it. Will she now conquer grief and situation all alone at home. Daughter Jessica and hubby are so supportive living nearby; but need to build their own lives too.
Early in her own cancer journey, Kim volunteered at her Church as counselor to help others for many years. So young at 51 now facing her own challenges. So thin after facing two cancer journeys. Could use nutritional counseling. But resolved to go on in Life with Faith in God, humanity and herself. Her spark/infectious smile affects others especially the elderly on her frequent stops at McDonalds; her retreat from problems. Memorial is over; family returned to normal life. What will happen now?