Upper Caboolture toddler Pippen Ellis, 2, faces Christmas in hospital fighting leukaemia
A Moreton toddler will spend Christmas in hospital after a shock cancer diagnosis in October triggered months of gruelling chemotherapy.
North Lakes Times
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A Moreton toddler will spend Christmas in hospital after a shock cancer diagnosis in October triggered months of gruelling chemotherapy.
Upper Caboolture toddler Pippen Ellis, 2, has been a light for her single mum Jessica, 29, since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Pippen was now undergoing five different chemotherapies at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital and faced a potential bone marrow transplant and Christmas stay in hospital.
“Pippen has a very funny personality and laughter is definitely her medicine,” she said.
“She is a very caring positive girl and is beautiful.
“The doctor say she’s very wise for her age and mature – they love her and she loves them too.
“The hospital have been amazing. “They did a Disney day last Friday and every room had a theme.
“Pippen’s room was (turned into) a hot dog stand and she had a passport and rode her bike to visit other children.”
Jessica said the diagnosis came as a shock both for her and Pippen’s older sister Harper, eight.
“For two months she was sick at kindy with colds and conjunctivitis,’’ Ms Ellis said.
“Then she stopped walking and went down a rabbit hole.
“We found out she had a fall and it caused fluid to go to her hip (which) sent red flags to us.
“The hardest thing was having the girls separated as Harper had to go to school, but they’ve always been best friends.”
Ms Ellis said Pippen’s beautiful strawberry curls were the first thing to go.
“She sadly lost her little ginger locks, which I struggled with because she had very thick curly hair and I loved doing her hair,” she said.
“She needed a feeding tube because she was affected by the medication and chronic nausea.”
A GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses has so far raised more than $12,000 — a Godsend for Ms Ellis who has not been able to work for the past eight weeks.
“I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s hard to put a smile on in (her former career in) customer service, trying to keep a brave face and let my girls know there will be an outcome,” she said.
“I have a retail job and (previously) worked eight to 10-hour days to support the girls when they come home.
“It’s been very difficult being a separated single mum.
“I’ve tried hard to keep my head above water, but I’ve found even in a broken family everyone will support you.’’
Ms Ellis said Pippen’s treatment could last for another two years but she has made a Christmas wish regardless of the outcome..
“We are trying to get through Christmas,” she said.
“But I hope she is cancer-free in the new year.”
Jessica said her former husband played basketball and owned a wrestling business teaching people how to become pro wrestlers.
Many of his basketball friends had donated merchandise to help the family.
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