| Elise's pediatrician initially thought the pain in Elise's right knee was growing pains. But when it persisted, Elise's parents took her to an orthopedic surgeon. |
| Scans revealed a tumor in her right tibia. A biopsy confirmed the tumor was an osteosarcoma — the most common type of bone cancer in children. |
| Elise and her family came to The University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, where they met orthopedic oncologist Valerae O. Lewis, M.D. She proposed a procedure called rotationplasty to remove Elise's cancer while preserving her ability to walk. |
| Rotationplasty turns an ankle into a knee joint, making an above‑the‑knee amputation into a below‑the‑knee amputation. Through this procedure, Lewis says, "Most patients eventually will be able to walk unaided and return to the sport of their choice." |
| Elise's treatment was aggressive. She underwent chemotherapy for 10 weeks before surgery and 20 weeks after surgery. It took a year of healing before she was able to wear her prosthetic leg. |
| Now Elise walks unassisted and even plays softball and other sports. She's brimming with confidence and shows off her prosthetic leg every chance she gets. Read more of Elise's story. |
| Elise not only survived cancer but also is living life to the fullest because of innovative treatment provided by MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and because of the generosity of people like you. |
| In honor of patients like Elise, please stand with us this #GivingTuesday, November 28, by giving your best gift. |
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