Meet Our 2025 Champion, Elliott!
Meet Elliott, a brave six-year-old with an inspiring story of courage and resilience. A fall down the stairs, saved Elliott’s life.
When Elliott was two years old, he fell down the stairs at his home in Bangor. Like so many kids, he bounced right back up, and his parents didn’t think much of it. But a day later, they noticed something unusual—his left eye started to drift to the side.
His mom, Elana, shared, “I took him for an MRI, which was blurry because he was awake for the procedure, but it still showed what looked to be a tumor in his left eye.” For a clearer picture, Elliott was admitted to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for a sedated MRI. That’s where the family’s concerns were confirmed—Elliott was diagnosed with an advanced stage of retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. Elana added, “It was scary. It was overwhelming. You hear the word “cancer,” and then you hear “to save his life.” Elliott’s oncologist explained that the best course of action was to remove his eye.
Four hours from home, at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, another member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’, a surgeon agreed that immediate surgery was necessary to save his life. The surgery was scheduled for the following day.
The days that followed were filled with a roller coaster of emotion, but Elliott’s bravery and resilience shone through. Once at home in Bangor, Elliott and his big sister, Autumn, took off running around the house, playing like normal. After that moment, his parents knew that everything was going to be okay.
A few months after the surgery, Elliott received his first prosthetic eye, and today, he is a force to be reckoned with. Elliott is full of energy, strong-willed and outspoken. His sister, Autumn, is his biggest protector and loves to educate curious children about Elliott’s “special eye.”
Elliott’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, and the importance of expert care. Elliott is a thriving six-year-old today thanks to the care he received from two Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’— Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Your donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ make a difference. Every penny raised remain local to help kids like Elliott every single day.
