Between dancing, cheerleading, drumming and making pasta with her grandma, nine-year-old Elena never stops. She loves music and always has a funny story to share.
While staying with her grandparents earlier this year, Elena had a sore leg. When her grandma Scarlett gave it a little massage, she noticed a small lump.
This lump would turn their worlds upside down.
The GP immediately sent Elena for an X-ray and within an hour, the family were told to go to the hospital.
Scans revealed a tumour on Elena’s thigh bone and further testing dealt the family the devastating news that it was Osteosarcoma – bone cancer.
“It all happened so fast,” Scarlett recalls. “Suddenly we’re on the hospital ward being told Elena will need chemotherapy.”
At the same time, doctors discovered that Elena had a fracture in the exact same place as the tumour.
“Elena was screaming in agony. We never imagined that her sore leg would turn out to be cancer and on top of that, be broken. They had to put her in traction in bed which was really awful for her as she’s normally so active,” her dad George said.
Elena started chemotherapy straight away followed by major surgery to remove the tumour. She had a gastro feeding tube and a central line inserted to administer medication.
Doctors also took out the broken bone from her leg, treated it with radiation and then put it back in with grafts. The incision went from her hip to her knee, her dad explained.
“Elena’s had a double whammy of medical conditions to deal with that has involved a lengthy unexpected stay in hospital with so many treatments and painful surgeries.”
The journey has been very hard for Elena both physically and emotionally. She was immobilised in a hospital bed for nearly four months. It’s also been hard for her younger brother Victor and the whole close-knit family who are based in the ACT.
“Our lives have been turned upside down,” Scarlett said. “We basically live at the hospital in Sydney, and Elena's dad and I take it in turns to look after her. It’s hard being separated from the rest of the family for such long stretches of time.”
Amid so much pain and sadness, Starlight has brought the family moments of much-needed fun and happiness.
Elena first discovered the Captain Starlights when they visited her ward with jokes and games that had her smiling and laughing again.
“The Captain Starlights make hospital so much easier for her. They sing and make jokes and always cheer her up - they even named her Captain Lemon because she loves lemons!” her dad said.
Elena loves going to the Starlight Express Room to play UNO, do arts and crafts and never misses Bingo on Fridays. She even had one of her own songs she’d written played in the Starlight Express Room which had everyone cheering as she walked in the room.
“Starlight brings happiness to kids who are going through such a lot - they really shine a light into the darkness,” Scarlett said.
These moments of happiness and creativity help Elena cope with the unrelenting demands of hospital and treatment. She currently has a rigorous schedule of chemotherapy as well as dressings and central line changes which often leaving her feeling teary and exhausted.
“Without Starlight, it would have been very hard for Elena to cope mentally. They provide distraction and give her the chance to be play games, have fun and be a child. Importantly, she gets to make choices about what she wants to play and to express her creative side.”
While Elena’s treatment is ongoing, she does her best to stay optimistic and is always ready with a fun story to share with her doctors or the Captains.
She’s looking forward to the day she can go back to school and be a Cheerleader again - and her family are there encouraging her every step of the way.
Her grandma said having Starlight there has helped her granddaughter stay optimistic and positive about what lies ahead.
“Starlight gives her hope and happiness and the courage to look forward to a bright future when she’s back at home with her friends, family and her beloved dog, Nala. They make children feel there is light at the end of the long tunnel of hospital treatments – a time when they will be healed and be themselves again.”
