January 10th, 2024

This post will take a couple minutes of your time but it's been a long time since I have blogged and I think it might be worth the few minutes. Also feel free to share.
I often lie awake at night and ask myself, 'Why? Why did Ellie have to be the kid that lost her life to cancer?' It plays in my head like a scratched record, over and over. I always try to answer my question; I try to give an explanation to myself, so it all makes sense. The answer isn’t always the same, but it always seems to be along the same lines.
So, after being up since 3 am with the recurring question, I thought I would wake up, grab my computer, and share with you the explanation that came into my head this morning. The explanation that helps me get through my days. The explanation that can only make sense of why she had to leave me so early in life. And here we go.
Ellie brought people together. Yes, Ellie was shy, but somehow her kindness and quietness rallied a town and surrounding areas. At a time when our future of humanity was in question, when people who do not have the same beliefs could not be in the same room and get along, Ellie and her medical condition brought people together. But not only did she bring people together, people actually put their differences aside and laughed and enjoyed each other's company for a greater cause.
Now, this is when she was alive, so I can only imagine that was the explanation for why she had to have a brain tumor and spent most of her life in the hospital fighting. But that doesn’t answer the question of why she had to leave me. I mean, why couldn’t she live her whole life bringing people together to rally for a little girl that was fighting a brain tumor? Why wasn’t that enough?
The answer to this question always comes to me in February. Yes, February, it's almost like a light bulb goes off. It always comes to me at the Elliestrong Forever fundraiser. Seeing the immense support from the community, friends, and family to help others battling cancer. She was just the match that lit the flame of support for these families. The flame has continued to grow and is a full-on fire of love and support thanks to everyone that continues to put logs on the fire and support the mission.
Now, why am I up at 3 am today? Well, because the Elliestrong forever fundraiser is exactly one month away. And today is the deadline for the early bird price.
On a day-to-day basis, the air is taken right out of me like I was just sucker-punched. The only way the air comes back in me is through my family, friends, & the Elliestrong Forever Foundation. And the fundraiser is like an oxygen tank; it brings me back to life. It leaves a lasting warm feeling in my heart and reminds me what my amazing daughter has done; it gives her loss a purpose and a reason why it had to happen the way it did. Without the loss of Ellie, I would never have started the foundation; I would never have helped over 40 local cancer families in the short 5 years since she has been gone.
If you are reading this, you must have some kind of love for Ellie, some kind of love for me, some kind of love for the cause. And if that’s the case, then you belong at the Elliestrong Forever Fundraiser on February 10th at Heroes West Lemont (1015 State St., Lemont, IL) because I have an oxygen tank, and I promise the event will give you a breath of fresh air. I remember a friend at last year’s fundraiser came over to me and said something to the effect, 'Kyle, this, all this is for Ellie. It gives me chills.' It is a night to celebrate Ellie and give meaning to the great loss we have had in our lives but also serves as a night of fun while raising funds for cancer families. Families that also need a little breathing room or oxygen. Families that need us to come together and rally around them so they can get that much-needed air to keep the fight going. Families that just need a night of fun.
So, I am asking, I am begging, let's pack this place. The event space is 20,000 square feet and can comfortably hold 750 people. Our normal venues typically can squeeze 225 people in, but this year we have the space, so let's show these families some love. Make this magical night exactly that, Magic. Let's work together to give Ellie’s life meaning while giving these families what they need - some much-needed love, assistance, and a night of fun. Because this is the only way losing Ellie makes any sense.
Oh and I forgot to mention the most exciting party
Early bird price is $65 and it includes 5 hours open bar, appetizer buffet, bowling (shoe rental), Billiards, D.J., Dancing (ok well you have to supply your own dancing but we will supply the rest)
Order your tickets by clicking on the link
This post will take a couple minutes of your time but it's been a long time since I have blogged and I think it might be worth the few minutes.
I often lie awake at night and ask myself, 'Why? Why did Ellie have to be the kid that lost her life to cancer?' It plays in my head like a scratched record, over and over. I always try to answer my question; I try to give an explanation to myself, so it all makes sense. The answer isn’t always the same, but it always seems to be along the same lines.
So, after being up since 3 am with the recurring question, I thought I would wake up, grab my computer, and share with you the explanation that came into my head this morning. The explanation that helps me get through my days. The explanation that can only make sense of why she had to leave me so early in life. And here we go.
Ellie brought people together. Yes, Ellie was shy, but somehow her kindness and quietness rallied a town and surrounding areas. At a time when our future of humanity was in question, when people who do not have the same beliefs could not be in the same room and get along, Ellie and her medical condition brought people together. But not only did she bring people together, people actually put their differences aside and laughed and enjoyed each other's company for a greater cause.
Now, this is when she was alive, so I can only imagine that was the explanation for why she had to have a brain tumor and spent most of her life in the hospital fighting. But that doesn’t answer the question of why she had to leave me. I mean, why couldn’t she live her whole life bringing people together to rally for a little girl that was fighting a brain tumor? Why wasn’t that enough?
The answer to this question always comes to me in February. Yes, February, it's almost like a light bulb goes off. It always comes to me at the Elliestrong Forever fundraiser. Seeing the immense support from the community, friends, and family to help others battling cancer. She was just the match that lit the flame of support for these families. The flame has continued to grow and is a full-on fire of love and support thanks to everyone that continues to put logs on the fire and support the mission.
Now, why am I up at 3 am today? Well, because the Elliestrong forever fundraiser is exactly one month away. And today is the deadline for the early bird price.
On a day-to-day basis, the air is taken right out of me like I was just sucker-punched. The only way the air comes back in me is through my family, friends, & the Elliestrong Forever Foundation. And the fundraiser is like an oxygen tank; it brings me back to life. It leaves a lasting warm feeling in my heart and reminds me what my amazing daughter has done; it gives her loss a purpose and a reason why it had to happen the way it did. Without the loss of Ellie, I would never have started the foundation; I would never have helped over 40 local cancer families in the short 5 years since she has been gone.
If you are reading this, you must have some kind of love for Ellie, some kind of love for me, some kind of love for the cause. And if that’s the case, then you belong at the Elliestrong Forever Fundraiser on February 10th at Heroes West because I have an oxygen tank, and I promise the event will give you a breath of fresh air. I remember a friend at last year’s fundraiser came over to me and said something to the effect, 'Kyle, this, all this is for Ellie. It gives me chills.' It is a night to celebrate Ellie and give meaning to the great loss we have had in our lives but also serves as a night of fun while raising funds for cancer families. Families that also need a little breathing room or oxygen. Families that need us to come together and rally around them so they can get that much-needed air to keep the fight going. Families that just need a night of fun.
So, I am asking, I am begging, let's pack this place. The event space is 20,000 square feet and can comfortably hold 750 people. Our normal venues typically can squeeze 225 people in, but this year we have the space, so let's show these families some love. Make this magical night exactly that, Magic. Let's work together to give Ellie’s life meaning while giving these families what they need - some much-needed love, assistance, and a night of fun. Because this is the only way losing Ellie makes any sense.
Oh and I forgot to mention the most exciting party
Early bird price is $65 and it includes 5 hours open bar, appetizer buffet, bowling (shoe rental), Billiards, D.J., Dancing (ok well you have to supply your own dancing but we will supply the rest)
Order your tickets by clicking on the link https://www.liveonfollowyourdreams.com
If you cannot make it but wish to contribute you can click on this link to the elliestrong paypal page and donate.
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8VLTNWM59ERM8