A Decade of Courage: Elsa’s Ongoing Battle Against AML and the Strength That Carries Her Forward
Tomorrow, October 29th, marks a profound and painful anniversary for a family who has spent the past decade balancing hope, fear, exhaustion, and resilience. It has been ten years since Elsa Wiemerslage — then a bright, curious five-year-old — was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a diagnosis that instantly shattered the life her parents imagined for her.
Today, at 15, Elsa remains in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Her body is weary, but her will is fierce. She continues to battle for every breath, every heartbeat, every tomorrow.
The First Photo: Before Life Changed Forever
The earliest picture of Elsa from 2015 shows a child who had no idea what the future would demand of her — a future filled with clinical rooms instead of classrooms, medical charts instead of art projects, IV poles instead of playgrounds.
Her father Kevin’s three most recent photos, sent last night, tell a different story. They capture a teenager shaped by long years of treatments, setbacks, victories, and unimaginable challenges — a young girl whose bravery has far outpaced her age.
Elsa is still fighting. And she is still holding on.
A Decade Defined by Procedures, Pain, and Perseverance
For most teenagers, the last ten years would hold birthday parties, sports, school dances, and friendships.
For Elsa, they have been marked by:
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Three stem cell transplants
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A grueling NK (Natural Killer) cell trial
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Endless hospital admissions
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Pain that most adults will never experience
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The emotional and physical toll of living on the edge of uncertainty
This is what childhood cancer looks like — not a single diagnosis, not a single round of chemotherapy, but a long, unrelenting battle with no predictable path and no guaranteed outcome.
Elsa’s endurance is staggering, the kind that leaves even her medical team in awe.
Her Family’s Message: “Please Pray for Our Girl”
Ahead of tomorrow’s milestone, Elsa’s mother Adrienne shared a quiet plea — one born from exhaustion and love:
“If you could spare a few minutes, Elsie could use some prayers and positive vibes. Thank you for loving and supporting our girl through the years.”
It is a message spoken by countless parents of children with life-threatening illnesses — a message that carries both hope and heartbreak.
Their ask is simple:
Please keep Elsa in your thoughts. Please lend strength where hers is fading. Please help her feel less alone.
Through All the Pain, Her Spirit Refuses to Break
Despite the countless setbacks, Elsa’s determination remains one of the few constants in this unpredictable journey.
Her family often says that even on the worst days, there is a spark in her — a stubborn light that refuses to dim. She has survived moments when doctors were unsure she would make it through the night. She has endured procedures no adult could face without fear.
And still, she fights.
Still, she chooses life.
What Tomorrow Really Means
October 29th is not simply an anniversary — it is a reminder of everything Elsa has had taken from her, and everything she has fought to keep.
It is a reminder of:
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birthdays spent in hospital rooms
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holidays disrupted by emergency admissions
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milestones she never got to experience
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the weight her parents carry every single day
But it is also a reminder of resilience — of a child who has defied odds, outlasted predictions, and continued to survive in a journey that has broken many before her.
You Can Still Make a Difference — Even From Far Away
Elsa’s battle is not over.
Her family continues to stand beside her.
Her medical team continues to fight for her.
And her community — near and far — continues to lift her up.
Tomorrow, as the family faces a decade they never asked for, one thing matters most:
Elsa must not feel alone.
Your prayers, your thoughts, your love — they matter.
They have carried her through ten years.
They can carry her through one more day.
And then the next.
And the next.
Elsa, We Are With You
Your courage has touched more hearts than you will ever know.
We are standing behind you — for every bad night, every good moment, every battle still ahead.
You are not fighting alone.