Praying for Ella

Ella’s Story

Ella Renee Reese (photo courtesy ellafightsback.com)

ELLA RENEE was born on October 15, 2010 to Michelle and Brian Reese. An always smiling, happy baby with a sweet chuckle, Ella is affectionately called “my little bird” by her mother. But in May 2011 Ella’s carefree life filled with stroller rides and play dates came to an abrupt halt.

Starting in late March 2011, Ella visited her pediatrician on several occasions. Her inconsolable crying and unusual fussiness was first attributed to teething and acid reflux. In a span of 5 weeks however Ella stopped babbling, lost her voice, muscle tone (hypotonic) and full use of her legs. Numerous tests were performed (upper GI, MRIs, blood tests etc.) and were all normal. Michelle and Brian’s frustration grew as they knew in their hearts that something was not right.

With an intuitive sense of urgency, Ella’s parents and pediatrician scheduled an MRI of the spine. On May 19, 2011 a mass was discovered in and around Ella’s spine and in her abdomen next to her kidney. On May 20, 2011 surgery was performed on Ella’s little back to remove a section of the tumor on her spine and inside her vertebrae along her spinal cord. The following day 7 month old Ella was diagnosed with stage 3 Neuroblastoma*, a very aggressive childhood cancer.

She is being treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. Her little body will have to endure surgery, rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, numerous tests, speech and physical therapy.

Though this experience has devastated their family emotionally and financially, Michelle and Brian and the wonderful team of Oncologists at APH remain hopeful for Ella’s full recovery. Friends, family, and strangers have allied around the family in prayer and assistance.

Although life has thrown them a huge challenge, they have deep faith that God is by their side and are eternally grateful that Ella chose to be part of their family.  Read Ella’s story on www.EllaFightsBack.com.

*Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer that develops from the tissues that form the sympathetic nerve system (the part of the nervous system that controls body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, bowels, levels of certain hormones). It affects 10 children in every million, usually before the age of 5. In the US an average of 650 children are diagnosed every year, compared to 70 in Canada and 80 in the UK.

The term “Neuro” indicates “nerves”, while blastoma refers to a cancer that affects immature or developing cells. The cause of Neuroblastoma is unknown. Studies have shown that genetics and environmental factors are not involved.

Source: American cancer Society and “Neuroblastoma” Norman J Lacayo. MD, Clinical Assistant Prof, Dept. of Pediatrics Stanford University and Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital, February 2005.