Elizabeth was born a healthy child and the second baby for her parents.  She is a vibrant happy little girl who has tried to enjoy life to its fullest. She has two brothers Robert 11 and Jonathan age 7. She lived a fairly normal life for 8 years and then slowly became ill. She started with stomach cramps and it just developed further from  mild  to severe pains and cramping.  After numerous trips to Doctors and specialists, and countless blood tests . The doctors found out what was wrong with Lizzy and she was diagnosed  with  "Ewings sarcoma" in November 97 and she was given just two short months to live.  Her parents made the decision to put her on an experimental trial therapy and hoped for a positive outcome.

Then started the long process of watching Lizzy fight for her right to live.  She underwent numerous Chemo and  radiation treatments.  Had Ct scans done blood drawn over and over again along with many bruises from her veins being pricked day to day.  Between the vomiting to lost weight to her hair loss, she came through it all and was pronounced in remission on May 11 98.  Her fight had been a victory at least for the time being.

Then  as summer came and went Lizzy again started to experience stomach pains and cramping as she had before, indicative that the cancer had returned.   Again more blood tests and again more bad news for Lizzy and her parents. The tumor had returned and was growing. Her tumor had wrapped itself around her spinal column and her rib.  X-rays now showed she had developed spots on her lungs.  Now considered terminal.  Lizzy continues to fight this cancer and tries to overcome her pain from day to day.  She is in children’s hospital in her home town and is on various meds to control her pain and constant nausea from all the chemo.  She receives ebilone in the morning and at night along with gravol to control vomiting and ondanestetron to help with her upset stomach.  Also on her list of meds are Phenergran , ranititidine, max-dryll, and these are just her stomach meds.  Her  pain meds include topetecan and cyclophosphomide.   Lizzy also has to have platelets transfusions and has had serious reactions to them.  Her windpipe started to close  off and she had trouble breathing after one transfusion and she broke with a rash all over her body.  Now she has to have benedryl administered before each platelet transfusion as a safe guard measure. She has an insuflon catheter in her leg ,in the thigh area for chemo which  stays installed rather than being poked with a needle each time she needs Chemo.  The GCSF helps stimulate the granulocytes so that the neutrophil count goes up quicker after chemo.  This helps increase the immunity which is wiped out by chemo. So many procedures. So many tests. Lizzy has undergone more testing and probing than most of us will endure in a lifetime.

She has recently  had a  visit from a  very special friend, from Disney's World on Ice.  Yep. Mickey Mouse came to the hospital and had his pic taken with Lizzy compliments of  The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.  They also provided Lizzy with a shopping spree and she did shop, chauffeur driven limo and spending  money on frivolous things.  That day made her smile and forget about her pains if only  briefly. For when the shopping spree was over and done again it was back to the hospital and again the rigors of daily life for Lizzy.  As of recently Lizzy had been fighting this cancer that plagues her, but her last CT scans and x-rays showed he tumor has now grown  and causing pressure on her spinal cord, thus causing Lizzy alot of pain.   The spots on her lungs have remained the same.

Over the last few weeks Lizzy has been in excruciating pain and her pain meds have been  adjusted. Her Fentynal went from 110mcgs continuous drip to 300 mcgs and they also upped her bolus fentynal from 10 mscgs allowed every 30 minutes to 60 mcgs allowed every 15 minutes.  The oncologists are trying their best to keep Lizzy  as comfortable as possible including putting an epideral  just below her tumor site < just below the 8th vertebrae>to try and alleviate some of her discomfort.  With all the Chemo that Lizzy has gone through Doctors now say  if she has any more that she may be crippled in  as little as six months, if she lives that long. The doctors are at the point to where they don’t want to administer any more chemo to her and if they stop the lung tumors will eventually grow and she will suffocate from them. As the Oncologist put it,  " she wondered how humane it was to prolong the inevitable by giving Lizzy any more Chemo.  In recurrent Ewings sarcoma, chemotherapy does not play a big part for controlling the main tumor site.  It is great for mets but not for Primaries, as what Lizzy has. The only alternative at this time is for possible surgery and also the possibility that Lizzy may die on the operating table.  At this point in time  Lizzy's parents are looking for any alternative treatments that may be out there.  Any and all advise or info on alternative treatments for recurrent Ewings sarcoma with involvement of the 8th vertebrae  would be appreciated by the parents.

Lizzy lives with her two brothers Robert age 11 and Jonathon age 7 and her mom Eleanor.  She loves animals and has a  dog, Jemma the wonder German Shepherd. Frisky the cat and cuddles the bunny, and Igor the Siamese fighting goldfish. Lizzy also another gold fish she calls Black eyed Suzie who is with her in the hospital.  Lizzy has gone though too many things for her tender age.  She is a sweet kind hearted child who needs to know people care.  She would love to receive a card or even a small gift from someone who cares.  Show her she is not alone in this world.  Show your support and drop her a message of hope and comfort.  Lizzy is currently in Children’s Hospital but you can write to her at the following address.   All mail will be forwarded by me.  Make sure you address all mailings to Elizabeth and I will put them in a larger box and send them on to her unopened. Please also include an email address if you like so the family can send a personal thank you if they have access to a computer. Please pray for Lizzy. Her life is in God's hands.
 
 

Lizzy has siblings at home who will always need to know others care. Please show you care by sending a card to her family. Thank you..

Elizabeth's Family
c/o SMILESNHUGS
70 C Mountjoy St. N.
Suite 315
Timmins Ont.,
P4N-4V7