Elizabeth Lee was born on April 21st 2004. Everything about her childhood was typical, except for her magical way of getting people to adore her. But all this changed on December 23rd, when an on-call doctor, Dr. Regina Clarke, decided that she felt Elizabeth’s spleen during a routine abdominal screen when we brought Elizabeth in to have her cough diagnosed. After the tests were run it was determined that Elizabeth has neuroblastoma, a disease that in the US annually affects about 600 children, most below the age of 5. Even though Elizabeth’s was caught early, because of the tumor biology, she is in a high risk group. Children with stage 4 neuroblastoma with bad biology have about a 40% chance of living, children with stage 3, about 60%. Because the number are so low for stage 2 and bad biology we don’t really know Elizabeth’s odds. This is the chronicle of her cancer odyssey.
News of Elizabeth Lee and Her Family
Follows Elizabeth Buell-Fleming’s Treatment for Neuroblastoma
I feel so bad for leelee. she has gone through so much and she is only three years old. i couldn’t imagine having my birthday in the hospital and getting pricked by shots everyday. elizabeth, i hope you get better soon. we are all praying for you! : )
By: katie trent on May 30, 2007
at 11:21 pm
this is so heartbreaking. i feel so bad for the family, they go through so much to have elizabeth feel better. god bless you all. : )
By: katie trent on May 31, 2007
at 12:55 am
We will keep you in our prayers! God Bless!!! http://www.taylorwatts.org
By: Jim and Kim on June 9, 2007
at 11:27 am
Hey guys,
Happy gave me your blog address so I can keep up with what is going on. I’m glad to hear you have had a bit of good news. Elizabeth is a beautiful child. I would love to see more pictures of the girls. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We are wishing you all the best .
Love you all,
Margaret
By: Margaret on July 10, 2007
at 1:56 pm
May peace and strength be yours as your family weathers this stormy time. A side bar is that I saw Monica Fahey at a conference in Pittsburg in June and shared your news with her. It is my understanding she is now working at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. I hope she contacts you. Peace and love, Allison and Joe Miller
By: Allison Miller on July 17, 2007
at 10:47 am
Hi we made braclets for you Today.We hope you feel better!
-Troop 418
P.S. Good Luck!
By: Junior troop 418 on September 2, 2007
at 4:46 pm
To the family of precious Elizabeth, please never doubt the power of prayers and well wishes. Thirty years ago at 1 yr of age my son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, Stage IV. They told me he was terminal, and with treatment and luck he may live to be 4 or 5. Here it is all these years later and he is still here! At the time he was diagnosed, only 3% if stage IV patients survived, and from your note it looks like 40% are the current statistics! That’s an amazing difference and one that should be very encouraging. I’m with you in thoughts and prayers, and though the journey may at times seem too difficult to get through, it doesn’t mean you won’t! Elizabeth and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Best wishes, Mary
By: Mary Cleveland on December 18, 2007
at 3:26 pm
If found your web site while reading Arden’s. We have become “friends” with Ardens family even though we have never met, but we are traveling the same path. My granddaughter Rylee, has NB, is 3 years old, and was diagnosed in June of 2007. We are post transplant and waiting for radiation. Your daughter is beautiful and looks like a princess. Give her a hug and kiss from Indiana and we will keep her in our prayers. These kids are amazing! Sherri
By: Rylee's Grandma on February 1, 2008
at 7:00 pm
I heard about Elizabeth when I applied for my son Michael to go to the UofD Labratory Preschool. Michael was diagnosed with stage 1 NB in April,2005. However, our battle is a little different form yours. He right now has been “cured” of NB but from the NB has a really rare auto-immune disease called Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS). there is no cure for OMS and we are still fighting it everyday. Michael gets monthly chemo and needs ACTH(steroid) injections every other day. I have read through a couple of the months of Elizabeth’s treatments and it breaks my heart that another child has to endure many of the things the my son has. Our children are the strong ones. I don’t know how they do it, because it kills me. From one mom (who deals with hospitals, residents (haha), and medication every day) to another I truely understand your pain. I have found most of my sanity (or insanity) comes from talking to other moms who know what I have to deal with everyday. I know you have your hands full, but if you ever need a shoulder please e-mail me anytime. I will be sure to keep Elizabeth in my prayers.
Best Wishes,
MaryAnn
By: MaryAnn Hoffman on February 21, 2008
at 1:37 pm
Hey Dad,
I just spoke with Marc Allen. My family and I are keeping you in our thoughts. We will continue to keep the strenth that you and your family show in our hearts.
Mike C
By: Mike Carlozzi on May 6, 2008
at 10:11 pm
Hi,
I’m not sure if you remember us but Ryan was in school with Katie and I’ve just heard about Elizabeth. She would have been born the last year that Ryan attended the LabSchool. He left right before Kindergarten. We just wanted you to know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and will check back often for updates.
By: Torrey Sipple on June 26, 2008
at 3:52 pm
just wondering how the family and elizabeth is doing have not seen any post to the website. take care and hope all is well… Jane and Bud
By: jane hurlock on March 3, 2009
at 11:55 am
oh… and if I could take those shots myself for Elizabeth and it would help HER, I would do it for her a thousand times in a heartbeat.
Dan Cohen
North Miami Beach, FL
danco1968@hotmail.com
By: Dan Cohen on May 1, 2009
at 12:02 am