Helping Elizabeth Thrive

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth loves to exercise and spend time with friends and family. But a painful, recurring tumor in her back meant she couldn’t walk or even sit comfortably. It often kept her out of school and away from social activities. “I felt like I was just drifting along,” she says.

Elizabeth and her family found hope at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Hospital, and a new treatment, called MR-HIFU. It destroys tumors with high-power ultrasound and eases pain.

“After I got MR-HIFU, I could run and jump. I could have fun and I could go over to my friend’s house,” Elizabeth says. “I felt like I had a life again.”

“The hospital team wanted to help Elizabeth as much as we did,” her mom says. The family also appreciated that Elizabeth’s case was a part of important research that will contribute to healthier, pain-free futures for other children.