There aren’t many words to describe this day.  I was asked to be a part of this special day by Amie and there was not a single reason I could possible think of to say no.  Ella is a beautiful three year old who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma not long ago.  Ella is my hero, so is her mom Jen.  What was accomplished this day for Ella and her family blew my mind.  People lined up for hours in the pouring rain to eat hot dogs and buy raffle tickets.  No one complained about the rain, no one said a word, they came out and shared their love with a girl they may, or may not have even known.  An RV full of hungry and disappointed Phillies fans rolled up after the game had been cancelled and enjoyed some lunch with us.  I feel absolutely blessed to have been able to capture this day, so now I will share it with you.

If you are in ANYWAY interested in helping Ella and her family, please, feel free to send me an email.  Please also, do not forget my current session offering to benefit Ella and her family.  A 30 minute mini session, an 8×10 print, and 3 digital files for $100.  You will also receive 50% off any additional purchases.  50% of everything will go back to Ella and her family.  Please send me an email at jeni@jenigreen.com to book this very special offer.

And Here is Ella’s Story, as told by Amie:

Miracles for Ella
Ella woke up in the middle of the night complaining of a belly-ache. She had a low-grade fever. Her mommy, Jen, let it go for a few days, thinking it was just a little something that all kids have. But it didn’t go away. Jen decided to pack her three kids into the car and go to the Emergency Room. The doctors were not convinced, and said bring her back if it got worse. Jen begged, “Please give her an ultrasound. I know my little girl. I know something is wrong with her.” Jen thought it was appendicitis. Never in Jen’s worst nightmare would the ultrasound technician stop and run to get a doctor. Never did she think that that doctor would tell her that there was a tumor that filled up her abdomen. Jen never thought she would send her two sons, Owen and Zachary, home and she and Ella would stay in the hospital for weeks doing tests and setting a plan for her daughter’s Stage 4 Neuroblastoma treatment.
Neuroblastoma is a cancer that usually affects children, and attacks developing nerve cells. The tumor usually affects a bundle of nerves around the adrenal glands (above the kidney). Stage 4 classification means that the disease has spread to the lymph nodes, bone, bone marrow and other organs. There is a cure rate of 10% to 40% in children over the age of one.
Ella was two at the time of her diagnosis. She turned three after having numerous chemotherapy treatments and many stays at “the doctor’s house” – Ella’s term for Lehigh Valley Hospital. Ella received treatments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as well, where she recently had the visible tumor removed in a 6 ½ hour surgery. She will have another course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the next few weeks to rid her fragile little body of any remaining tumor. Ella will then have two bone-marrow transplants at the end of the summer.
Jen is a single mother who dedicates her life to saving her daughter and spending as much time as possible with Owen and Zachary when she is not at the hospital. She spends her nights sleeping in recliners or squeezing in to hold her baby girl in the hospital beds. Lehigh Valley Hospital and CHOP continue to care for Ella. Friends of Jen began “Miracles for Ella,” an organization which, through Facebook, allows friends, family and others announce fundraisers to benefit Ella and family.