I don't think that I can fully express the joy behind taking this picture, but I'll try. After years of watching her two older sisters dance, today was Ellie's turn to begin dance class. She was ecstatic! This is a little girl that has been talking about "dance class" for years and almost daily for the past couple of months. "Is it time for dance class yet? Mama, who will be in my class?" Today was her day and I don't think I have ever seen smiles this big on her face.
In March of 2016, she watched her sisters dance in Peter Pan Jr. That was two weeks before she was diagnosed with Leukemia. In March of 2017, she watched her sisters dance in Alice in Wonderland Jr. Days before, she spent the evening in the ER and her hair was finally starting to really grow back. In March of 2018, Ellie will be up on stage with her sisters dancing her heart out in Madagascar Jr. She might even have hair long enough to pull back into a bun!
Yes, this feels momentous.
Our family feels so fortunate to be a part of the DeArmon CAST family. Since her diagnosis, this will be the first time that Ellie will regularly be around children her age. We are cautious, but even more than that, we are excited. This feels like the beginning of the end. In less than a year, cancer will forever be behind Ellie. And a lifetime of dances will lie before her.
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