This is Ellicia. She is in a battle. It is the battle against cancer and unfortunately the cancer is winning. It has gone from breast to lung to brain. Ellicia, her husband, blogger SC Eagle of A Storm in Afghanistan and their children are desparately trying to enjoy what time remains to their family. They are currently in Germany where SC Eagle serves our country on active duty, but they are working on coming home to the States where SC will be on compassionate leave. Also, where they are hoping to have full-time hospice care so that she can be with her family for as long as absolutely possible.
My heart breaks for this family. SC Eagle has put his life on the line for this country and yet he continues to fight, this time for his love and his own family. Here is a little of what their days are like:
Day to day life? Well, she has good days and bad days. She no longer carries anything breakable or sharp as we never know when something will give out. Driving is a long-ago memory now. And, of course, I don’t leave her alone with our toddler. For her to get in/out of bed, we like to have me there… just in case.
She can move around alright. Slowly, but deliberately.
She still has her “Brain Freeze” moments. Brain Freeze has now been diagnosed by one of our doctors. Apparently, it’s actually mini-seizures in the brain. What happens is that about twice a day, for approximately an hour at a time, she comes to a stop. She really can’t concentrate on anything, or think through anything. For example, let’s say she’s playing solitaire. When the freeze comes, she can no longer figure out where the next card goes. Luckily, we seem to be able to tell when the freeze is coming, so… she’ll just take a seat and wait for it to end. Or, if we’re driving, then it’s pretty easy…
Yes, she’s still coherent and can answer basic questions (“Are you ok?”, “Brain Freeze?”, etc), but…
Her leg is no where near where it used to be, but it could be a lot worse.
Toes are wiggling… maybe that’s a good sign.
So, what’s with the picture? Well, fortuitously, we had professional pictures done while we were on leave. Here is hers.
She looks a bit different now. The hair is gone. So, of course, is one of the breasts.
Guess what? She’s still beautiful. Her infectious smile and twinkle in the eye, that is still there. And she makes me laugh. And I love her.
Andrea Shea-King and Mark Vance of Constitutional Public Radio and their blog, The Radio Patriots have a fundraiser that will be starting very soon. It is to help with medical, loss of some income and hospice expenses that SC Eagle’s family is having to deal with. Please visit The Radio Patriots website for further news and updates!
Bless your heart, Anna. You said it even better than I could. Thank you!
Thank you for posting this and bringing it to my attention. I have not had a lot of time to read all my favorites since my dad was here this last week, so I am very grateful that you not only showed me this post, but that you sent me that beautiful picture! My heart really does break for them!
so very sad…
Yes, but they are definitely trying to enjoy every moment they have left together. Say a prayer, BB!
Heartbreaking and oh, so inspiring all at once ~
Lovely post about them, Anna. Thanks ~
Thank you yankeemom! They are inspiring and cherishing each moment.
This is so sad. Such a young family having to endure such a trial just doesn’t seem fair. (It isn’t.)
“She’s still beautiful… she makes me laugh. And I love her.” SC Eagle is an American hero in more ways than one, as he expresses his continuing love & devotion to his life’s sweetheart amidst the greatest challenge of both their lives. I pray the whole family finds Strength they never knew they had; it’s always there.
Trish it really isn’t fair and she is far too young. SC and his family are living each moment to the fullest…I hope she is making videoes or scrapbooks for the kids. One is just a toddler!
I will be adding this family to my prayer list. Thank you so much for posting this Anna. I will be emailing the group in charge of their fundraiser to see what we can do.
Thank you, Sarah. I have talked to SC on occasion through Andrea and Mark’s radio show. They are good people and this is such a tragedy and I know that they can use all the prayers they can get!
[...] This is a request to all my readers to help out this wonderful family and in doing so, you could be the owner of personally signed copies of Lt. Col. “Buzz” Patterson’s three books. You’ve read about Ellicia on my blog before here. So, you know that she and her family are facing a situation that would break most of us. They, however, are determined to make the most of each moment and they could use our help. Below is some of the details of the upcoming auction to raise money for this family. Andrea Shea King and Mark Vance have arranged this auction and are putting the word out not only on their blog, The Radio Patriots, but also on their radio show, Constitutional Public Radio. A giant thank you to both of them for taking on this wonderful endeavor! Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson, USAF (Ret.), Chief Operating Officer with the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is donating and will personally autograph a trio of his best selling books: “Reckless Disregard: How Liberal Democrats Undercut Our Military, Endanger Our Soldiers, and Jeopardize Our Security”; “Dereliction of Duty – The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America’s National Security”; and his most recent book “War Crimes – The Left’s Campaign to Eliminate the Military and Lose the War on Terror”, debuting in January ‘07. [...]