My name is Kristin Elizabeth Elliott, and this is my story. I was born January 30, 1990 in Houston, Texas and have lived my entire life in Richmond, Texas. I could not have been gifted with a better family than the one God has placed me in. My parents and brother and sister, Brandon and Mandy, have been nothing but amazing and my deepest words could never thank them for all the sacrifices they have made for me. I have attended Faith West Academy since 5th grade and graduated in May 2008. I will head for Baylor University in the Fall 2008.

 

My life has been filled with volleyball, family and friends, and mission trips. My first mission trip was to Mexico at age thirteen, and there we helped construct beds, paint, and build a new home for the kids. My life was forever changed in that moment, and I knew my passion would be working with children. I have returned to Mexico four times during my high school years, mostly during my Thanksgiving and spring breaks. There, we minstered to our kids through manual labor and spending time with them.

 

 However, while doing this, something happened that would change my life forever. Just days after my 16th birthday, I was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer, called Synovial Cell Sarcoma in Stage III. The tumor was found in my right thigh, and it was was measured to be the size of a grapefruit. The survival statistics for this type of cancer are not promising, but for me I knew that I had to "walk by faith and not by sight." I endured months of chemotherapy to no avail.  It did not shrink the tumor as doctors had hoped, and it even caused me to lapse into a coma at one point. The failure of chemotherapy led me to have an 8 hour surgery to remove the tumor embedded in my muscle. Doctors did not expect me to have much function of my leg, but to their amazement, I was walking just two days after surgery with full function of my leg. I also had a little more than two months of radiation to complete my cancer treatment. It left second degree burns on my leg and surgery scar. I continued to work hard to get in shape for volleyball, and I was blessed to make it back for my junior year for school and volleyball. I continued with my missions, and I was led to Zambia, Africa in the summer of 2007. I was accompanied by my mother and sister, who are very involved in missions as well. These children absolutely captured my heart as we worked with them for a week. They are desperate for love and hope; I realized that is something I could give. When I returned from Zambia, I recieved another diagnosis that the the cancer had spread to my lungs. Then, I had to have lung surgery to remove the tumors preceding my senior year. Through it all, my faith in God and the prayers of so many have sustained me through this long, hard journey.

 

Make-A-Wish Foundation had come to me after my first surgery in February 2006 to grant a wish, but I could not think of anything I wanted. But after visiting Africa, there was only one thing in my heart that I knew what I wanted. I wanted to build an orphanage to permanently house the children I had come to love, forever insuring them a hope and a future. Make-A-Wish graciously granted me $2600.00 toward a $60,000.00 goal. The real challege was that I would have to raise the rest myself. I raised about $8000.00 myself before the media got wind of my story. Thanks be to God and all who gave, I recieved the funds necessary to build KRISTIN'S MIRACLE HOUSE in Zambia, Africa. The excess funds recieved are designated to help build KRISTIN'S MIRACLE AIDS CLINIC that will provide treatment for the children and adults with AIDS. I am amazed at what God can do when one answers his call. After He placed the idea upon my heart, and I made the decision to take a step of faith, my original dream exploded bigger than I ever thought it would. I know God has called me to care for those who need it and who desperatly need to hear of God's unconditional love for them.

 

Kristin Elliott