Churches, friends rally to help heal sick child

RALEIGH -- Allergies or a concussion.

That's what Renae Newmiller of Raleigh figured was wrong with her almost 5-year-old daughter when she took her to an urgent care clinic six weeks ago. The normally chatty, active girl was tired, her eyes glassy.

Less than two days later, after a battery of tests, came the diagnosis, and it wasn't so simple.

Inoperable brain tumor, said doctors at UNC-Chapel Hill. Fewer than 10 percent with the tumor, a "diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma," live another 18 months, according to The Cure Starts Now, a group formed to search for a cure for brainstem tumors.

The story of Ella, her diagnosis and prognosis, has traveled around the world.

Thousands have offered their thoughts, prayers and possible treatments for Ella on the Web site Carepages.com. The popular Web site Snopes.com, which debunks urban myths, proved to skeptics that the story seeking prayers for Ella was true.

"Lots of people have said it's touched their lives, that maybe it's made them spend more time with their child," Renae Newmiller said, rocking Ella gently on her lap Tuesday. "We're just amazed by it."

The Newmillers live in the Hedingham subdivision in East Raleigh. Renae, 40, is missions coordinator at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Mark, 38, is assistant director for the disability services office at N.C. State University. The couple, married 10 years this month, has a 7-year-old son, Jack, a rising third-grader.

A couple of months ago, they were any family with weekend soccer games, looking forward to summer vacation.

Now they find themselves the focus of prayer circles, Bible studies and entire churches of various denominations from as far away as China who are praying for them.

The Newmillers also have found support among their own church communities. The family is a member of both Edenton Street and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and their son has attended school at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church.

"They have been a role model to so many, how they are dealing with it," said Allison Cain, whose daughter Emma is Ella's good friend. "Just amazed by their faith."

Radiation is the most common treatment for the kind of tumor Ella has, though it's rarely a cure and could cause other problems, such as learning disabilities.

For now, the family is holding off on radiation. This weekend, the family will travel to Envita Natural Medical Centers of America in Arizona, which treats patients with cancer, autoimmune diseases and other illnesses.

Renae Newmiller learned about the center after hearing the story of another child with the same type of brain tumor. The girl, named Ella Hope, had been treated with both radiation and Envita's therapies. There is no sign of the tumor now, Renae Newmiller said.

Mark Newmiller initially was skeptical of Envita. "Despair and good will are the two biggest moneymakers in America," he said.

But it kept coming up. Renae's brother, a former hospital administrator, researched it.

Things started falling in place. Renae's brother's company owns a home with a car and pool near the clinic, where they could live. A friend offered frequent flier miles.

"The doors seemed to just be opening up," Renae Newmiller said. "We feel so blessed to have so much support."

A fundraiser Thursday at Marbles Kids Museum will help raise money to offset the cost of the treatment, which isn't covered by insurance, and help pay for research of pediatric brain tumors.

"We're just praying for that miracle," said Jackie Craig, a member of Team Ella, a group of friends which organized the fundraiser.

On Tuesday, Ella made pictures with a babysitter for her father for Father's Day. She was shy, climbing on to her mother's lap, her face crushed into her chest.

Two weeks ago, she graduated with her preschool class at Edenton Street. She has play dates, a pretty normal life so far, though her diet has been restricted.

Two days after the diagnosis, Ella was back at church, celebrating her fifth birthday with a big princess bash organized by friends.

She knows there is something in her head and that her family is doing all they can to get it out, her mother said.

"So many people have been just so kind and generous," Renae Newmiller said, cuddling Ella. "But really the main thing we ask for is prayer, because it's wonderful and that's what we need. Right, muffin?"

Then she gave little Ella a kiss.