Five Year Old Cancer Patient Leaves Hundreds of Notes for Her Family
Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids
When five-year-old Elena Desserich was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, she set out to help her family deal with her death in a truly remarkable way. The kindergartener started writing -- she created "The Kindergarten Survival Guide" for younger sister Grace -- and drawing.When Elena's cancer robbed her of the ability to speak, she used drawing and painting to communicate with her family. One of her paintings, titled "I Love You," was hung in the Cincinnati Art Museum, next to a painting by Pablo Picasso, one of Elena's favorite artists.
But she also wrote hundreds of notes for her family and hid them in various places around their home in Wyoming; her parents didn't know about the notes until after Elena died. "We were moving some boxes around one day and in between some of the books a note fell out," recalls mom Brooke Desserich. "Each time I would read one of those notes, it was like a little hug from her."
Inspiring Children - Stories of Hope
Baby Born from Transplanted Ovary
One woman thought she could never have children, but a donated ovary from her twin sister made the impossible a reality.
Read More
santarosa OLD SKOOL on flickr
Boy's Rare Illness Leads to Challenges, Hope
An incredibly rare condition has one Nebraska boy fighting for his life, and his family struggling to hold it together. Somehow they find the strength to keep hope alive.
Read More
stjudes.org
Twins Born From Cancer Survivor's 13-year-old Sperm
The 23-year-old knew the treatment for testicular cancer would render him infertile, so he planned ahead. Over a decade later he's the proud father of two beautiful babies.
Read More
santarosa OLD SKOOL on flickr
Couple Uses IVF to Spare Their Children From Breast Cancer
Before becoming a father, this man knew he didn't want to see his daughters ravaged by the same condition that'd plagued his mother and sisters. The genetic screening was certainly controversial, but will it save their children -- and even their children's children?
Read More
tasa on sxc
Puppies Save Boy Lost in Forest
"Momma I got cold," the three-year-old told his much-relieved grandmother, after he'd spent a night in the freezing woods. "[But] the puppies kept me warm."
Read More
mioawee on sxc
Grandpa Sacrifices Self for Granddaughter's Safety
Not every 65-year-old would throw himself in front of a moving car. But this man did, and in the process saved his granddaughter's life.
Read More
sskies on sxc
Dad Fights Pit Bull to Save Daughter
This father barely saved himself after wrestling his daughter free from the jaws of a vicious dog.
Read More
jusone on sxc
11-Year-Old Saves Seven
By keeping her cool under pressure, one little girl saved others from drowning.
Read More
wax115 on sxc
It's no surprise that Elena turned to writing to stay connected to her family. In the nine months between Elena's diagnosis and her death in August of 2007, her parents were also using writing to cope. The couple kept an online journal, chronicling their daughter's illness and their own struggles to come to terms with the inevitable. To their surprise, thousands of people read the journal and reached out to the Desserichs. "Everybody was reading the journal and going, 'This taught me to be a better parent. It taught me to spend time with my children, it taught me to value being a mom and dad,'" marveled Elena's dad, Keith Desserich.
Keith and Brooke Desserich have turned their journal and Elena's notes into a book, "Notes Left Behind." They have also started a foundation called The Cure Starts Now to raise money for pediatric brain cancer. My heart goes out to them -- I also have a kindergartener who likes to draw and leave little notes around for me to find -- but I have to admire the way they were able to teach Elena to see her life as joyful, and not as a tragedy. They really are inspiring parents.











ReaderComments (Page 1 of 4)
12-29-2008 @ 2:13PM
barb said...Oh my god, this story really brought tears to my eyes. How could a 5 year old be so smart & so caring as to do that? It just amazes me.
Reply
1-02-2009 @ 2:25AM
Nicole said...Children are smarter than most adults will ever know. We do not give them enough credit or take the time to listen to them. We don't let them make enough choices either. If you let them and see what they would do, you will see that most of the time they will make very good choices.
1-22-2009 @ 10:45PM
Robert said...That little girl was a GODSEND ! My mother Brenda has lung cancer and it hurts me to see how weak she is sometimes but to see my mom go through any pain hurts me alot ! I cant imagine what the parents of this beautiful little girl went through. I'm sorry for the loss of your little girl and it kills me that there's no cure and if there is one that it's hidden because of profits in money ! I wish you well and hope your daughters letters bring comfort to you what a thoughtful little girl she was or actually is because she is with you always !
2-08-2009 @ 7:34AM
Bruce said...There truly are angels among us. This is dedicated to one of them, dear Elena, in the spirit of helping others as she did so beautifully. To learn the details about a simple and effective natural cancer therapy, which crosses the blood brain barrier, has a chemical structure which prevents cancer cells from developing a resistance to its action, and has yielded often impressive results in treating a variety of cancers, including leukemia, breast, colon, lung, prostate, brain cancer (including left frontal glioblastoma), and more, and which according to one M.D. with an international reputation has "stabilized, improved, or remitted" every cancer patient he has followed, with the exception of patients very near death, go to: http://forums.healthiertalk.com/viewforum.php?f=13 and click on page 3. Then scroll down to the thread entitled, "Artemisinin - a Simple and Effective, Natural Cancer Therapy" by Beach Man and read the entire thread, including the info/articles/case history summaries at the provided Links. The posts/replies by Beach Man are written in concise and clear user friendly language to enable anyone to get started right away if necessary, and include a medically documented explanation of how it works, how to use it, where to obtain the recommended fully potent brands at the best price, etc. Information is also provided about how to locate an integrative physician experienced in such therapy.
12-29-2008 @ 3:09PM
Shevonne said...This is beautiful. It definitely brought tears to my eyes. Letters are powerful.
Reply
12-29-2008 @ 11:23PM
ninainindia said...That's so sweet of her to leave notes for her family to help them cope. I wish they didn't put them in a book though, those notes were personal.
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 7:32AM
beth said...No the notes are a learning tool for mankind, and shows the brilliance in the untainted minds of children.
12-30-2008 @ 9:12AM
Erin M. said...I see it differently... I see it as a way to inspire others. I mean, they got such a great response from what they did share, I understand why they'd want to give more.
It's a beautiful story, and to me it just sounds like the parents are proud.
1-23-2009 @ 2:20AM
JANE said...ninainindia, I think the parents were doing a good deed by putting the letters in the book. Maybe they thought the letters could help someone that has lost a child. They would not publish them if they wanted to keep them to their selves.
12-30-2008 @ 7:31AM
nicoblue said...OK, cry for the rest of the day and remember to be a better person. God Bless the little Angel.....
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 7:29AM
JUDY WRIGHT said...What a beautiful story! How heartbreaking for this child to have passed from this life so early in her journey. Not to be overlooked is how sensitive and astute this child was at such an early age....one can only imagine what a precious, wonderful adult she would have been! Just imagine what we all have lost with the passing of this angel......the untold bounties of this child's life as an adult, that have been lost to us all, with only a small glimps at her sensitive character! The things she could have been!! The things she could have done!! Her presence among us, even for such a very short while, was a blessing. Talk about "Touched by an Angel"!!!!!
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 7:34AM
Pam said...This almost made me cry too. What an intelligent little girl. Even the fact that she can write at 5. I wish they had put some of her writings in the article. Things like that should be put in books just to help other parents and childdren cope. I think it was nice of the parents to do that. God Bless the family and Elena.
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 9:11AM
valarie said...I too agree that she was an amazing gift to earth. To her family and friends I express my heart, but just know that she was an ANGEL on loan to your family and to humanity for that short season. She was obviously sent from GOD for this short time to TOUCH and to TEACH us all just how to live and also how to die. My God "WHAT dignity and what grace coming from a mere child." I am a kindergarten teacher and oh how I wish that adults could really see this world through the see of a child. Children are filled with widsom and right here this was demonstrated for us in the way this baby girl LIVED and the way she DIED. As we approach 2009 may we, all who read of this story, begin to live life to its fullest and LOVE as best we can. We all have our crosses to carry in this life, but this example give us by this child can teach us how to do it right. Valarie your VITFRIEND (vitfriend.com)
12-30-2008 @ 8:58AM
Alex said...God bless her! Its amazing she can do all of that at age 5! Its so sad! God bless her and her family!
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 9:17AM
Carei Powell said...She was an angel on earth apparently. I think some people are just too good for this world. She was one of them.
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 9:59AM
Danielle said...My daughter Sarah was diagnosed with cancer at age 7, she is 3 years in remission and doing well, I am so blessed to have her and thank god everyday for my precious gift..... Take a moment to appreciate what you have and be thankful. I too kept a journal of that year while she was in treatment and to this day I have not gone back to read it. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to do that!
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 10:01AM
Rhonda said...OMG .... I can't stop crying. This amazing little angel. What a wonderful thing she did for her family.
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 10:13AM
Valerie said...My little gift is now 3 and I cherish every moment with her! What a wonderful story of courage and love!
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 1:04PM
Mary Mongiovi said...Okay . . . am I the only one who thinks something is a little fishy here? The parents keep an online journal about what their kid is going through so everyone can read it. They start up a foundation (and foundations need money from somewhere). The kid's drawing is hung up near Picasso's (her favorite artist at age 5?). Suddenly, all these "notes" appear. I can understand how the grief of a parent can transition into the desire to make sense of it, and immortalize their child, but I seriously doubt a 5 year old with brain cancer did all this without some prodding (if at all). In a time where people need to find innocence and inspiration, let's not forget that, albeit in good intentions, truths get twisted and concocted. I'm sure people will "pray for my soul" here, but this is the way I see it. Sometimes the truth hurts.
Reply
12-30-2008 @ 1:14PM
Marla said...Are you sure your opinion IS the truth?