Notes Left Behind

This is Elena Desserich. I was so moved by her story that was featured on the Today Show this morning I had to share it with all of you. She was just five years old when she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She battled it for nine months, before losing her courageous battle when she was six. In those few months she managed to spread a message of hope and love.



She knew every day was a gift. She created her own bucket list....to swim with the dolphins, drive a car, a dance her with her Dad. She also left behind a "Kindergarten Survival" guide for her younger sister Grace. She did give her Dad a last dance....all gifts she wanted to give. But during her nine month battle she had and even bigger gift in mind....She was hiding notes around her house...hundreds of them tucked in drawers, books, between the dishes in the china cabinet in the dining room, in the garage...all to be found after she was gone. Each time they found one it was like getting a hug from her. She passed away three years ago....it had been almost a year since they found one....but just this week one more was found in the pages of a book.



Throughout her journey her Wyoming parents kept an online journal to keep her family up to date of her progress. They were astonished to hear that thousands of people were reading it daily....They have compiled the daily journal along with the notes and messages of love from Elena into a book called "Notes Left Behind". They have also created a foundation to raise money to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. I have not been able to stop thinking of this little girl I have never met or had never heard of for that matter.....but she was the same age as my little Cubby....and like her, Cubby likes to hide notes....I too find them in my drawers, in the folded towels in the linen closet, in the cereal boxes, under my pillow. He doesn't know how to write very much....pretty much just his name, pup, and Steelers....but he loves to draw all of us doing fun stuff....I usually save the little notes I find in the box under his bed with all of his art and papers from school....but sometimes I just leave them where they are....so when I "find" them again they make me smile all over again. After learning of Elena...these cute little notes have become so much more endearing....because you never know what each day will bring...every day is a gift. And this little girl has taught us all to treasure every day with our children.