Elyse E. – A star that will light up our evening of hope event

Elyse is a very creative 5-year-old that loves art, especially drawing and coloring. She also loves to play and has a HUGE imagination! After being diagnosed with ALL leukemia in 2021, she continues to fight every obstacle cancer throws at her. Elyse’s big smile and strength are truly inspiring and warm your heart.

Elyse and her mom, Yvonne, travel 326 miles, which is 3 hours each way, to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital for treatment. Yvonne shares a few things that make the 6-hour round trip car rides a little more comfortable for Elyse; “For us the most challenging part of traveling to treatment is the distance. We make sure to pack a bag with snacks, a blanket and a phone charger. Elyse likes to watch (videos on) my phone in the car and it seems to distract her from what’s to come.”

Despite cancer and long car rides to treatment, Elyse’s curiosity and endless of wanting to learn new things is Yvonne’s favorite thing about her daughter’s personality “She ALWAYS has a million and one questions about absolutely EVERYTHING”. It’s no surprise with her endless curiosity of learning new things, that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Yvonne also wants other families who might be facing a childhood cancer diagnosis to know, “Keep praying and just be the best advocate you can for your child!!” Mom shares spooky Halloween, happy Holiday celebrations, and summer adventure photos, and allows us the chance to celebrate Elyse’s wins. We are grateful to be part of Elyse’s cancer journey.

Next month, Elyse and her family will make another long drive, but this time to Chicago to inspire us by sharing part of their cancer journey in person as speakers at our Evening of Hope gala. We are thrilled to highlight Elyse as one of our honored guests at our upcoming gala. She is a star that will light up our An Evening of Hope event.