Please help Eliana beat leukemia

“She has Leukemia".. words that are still ringing in my ears. Nothing in my life could have prepared me for the shock and searing pain of that moment. Finding out that my sweet, happy, energetic niece Ellie of only TWO years of age has cancer.

On March 6, 2023 Ellie woke up with some mild swelling on her face that got progressively worse. My brother Armin and sister-in-law Gjineta rushed her to the doctor, fearing an allergic reaction, not knowing that something far worse was behind the swelling. They waited for hours for the lab results to come back as they helplessly watched her little eyes swell shut.

Her blood cell counts were super low and the doctor sent them an hour away for bone marrow testing. They were escorted to the pediatric oncology unit, and we all prayed with every part of our being that this was all just a mistake but it wasn't. In matter of 6 days, our Ellie Bellie went from a healthy toddler with a history of rare mild colds to being diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, having a permanent port placed and her first chemo treatment.

The shock of the last few days has reverberated through our entire family. Time feels like it has stopped and we are just aimlessly going through the motions of life. We go from unimaginable pain to numbness... repeatedly moving through the grief cycle. None of us can reach acceptance, because it's impossible to accept our little Ellie has to shoulder the burden of Leukemia on her tiny little frame. We are stuck in endless grief. No one is feeling this pain more than Armin and Gjineta.

As for Ellie, she's already starting to lose some of the innocence she had prior to this diagnosis. At 2 years old, she's starting to understand that the hospital isn't a nice place and that the smiling nurses with kind eyes come to poke and prod her little body. Despite that, she is showing us how resilient her little spirit is. She smiles, plays, hugs and makes us laugh. She is a bright light in this darkness and she needs your help to keep shining.

The treatment plan laid out for Ellie will be an extremely long and difficult process, spanning the next 2+ years of her life. Instead of playing outside with her brother, and learning things that other toddlers are learning at this age, Ellie will be spending her days undergoing treatments and fighting for her life. Her treatments will include chemotherapy, blood transfusions, spinal taps, medications and other procedures. She will also be immunocompromised for the majority of the time she is in treatment. Common viruses, bacteria and fungal infections that would not phase you or me are life-threatening to her.

Over the past few days, the outpouring of love and support Gjineta and Armin have received has been heartwarming and humbling. Ellie has a long road ahead of her and it will be a difficult and costly battle for her parents.

I set up this page to hopefully help alleviate some of their financial burdens during this heartbreaking time. If you can afford to donate any amount of money, regardless of how small, it is gratefully received and endlessly appreciated. Your donations will be used for various expenses such as medical bills, prescriptions, co-pays, gas money for medical appointments, basic needs, covering the loss of income of parents, and other unforseen expenses that undoubtedly they will have.

But above all, we ask for your love, support and prayers during this difficult time. Ellie has shown us that she is brave and strong beyond her years, and that she will fight to beat this terrible diagnosis. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.