C/O 34 Rockstone Way
Ramsgate
Kent
CT12 6NQ

NB: this is a forwarding address for the Pal, we do NOT disclose home addresses

Email Pal

Eleanor G's Parents/Guardians

Zara and Kevan

Eleanor G's Siblings

Georgina 13/03/98 Twilight, dancing, theatre and fashion, writing stories and poems. Daniel 07/07/03 Pokemon, Star Wars, animals.

Eleanor G's Interests

Horse riding, playing on her laptop i.e. build a bear games, Brownies, Eleanor loves Disney princesses especially Cinderella and loves dressing up. Eleanor has a reading age of approx 6 years and enjoys reading about horses, fairies or princesses. She also loves Wizards of Waverley Place and iCarly. Currently loves the X Factor and is getting into music - her favourite is Katy Perry!

Eleanor G's Favourite Colour

Pink and purple

Is Eleanor G able to read?

Yes

Is Eleanor G able to use hands?

Yes

Is Eleanor G visually/hearing impaired?

Yes

Does Eleanor G suffer from any developmental delay?

No

 Story written 2010

Eleanor was born with several life threatening conditions - Muscular Dystrophy, Cardiomyopathy, Severe Dystonia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Arthrogryposis and Multicystic Kidney Disease.

Eleanor, (Elle as her friends call her), has constant therapy and trips to the hospital several times a month but still tries to do everything she possibly can.

Eleanor uses an electric wheelchair as she can only walk a few steps and is due to have foot surgery soon. Due to her deterioration, Eleanor will be having brain surgery in the next few weeks in the hope of easing some of her symptoms and delaying the de-generation of her condition.

Although she gets breathless and very tired, Eleanor tries to join in with her friends and has extra feeds through a gastrostomy tube to help her get more energy (she does love eating normally though).

Eleanor struggles with most daily activities as she has muscle weakness and erratic body movements but she does everything with a smile.

Eleanor now has a CaringBridge website at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eleanorgabriel

Update 15th October 2011

Eleanor has had a really difficult and busy few months; she had her operations on both feet and spent the whole of the summer holidays in plaster casts… which she charged people to sign for Post Pals!

In the last few weeks Eleanor has had constant trips to hospital in London and is struggling a bit with tiredness and breathlessness, but is still carrying on doing all the things she loves with a smile!

Due to Mum being quite poorly and in out of hospital too, it has been quite hectic for the family, so apologies for late replies.

Thank you so much to Denise Cannadine for the Worst Witch books. Eleanor is still X Factor obsessed, but is also now enjoying her sister reading her Harry Potter and the Worst Witch. She is really getting into music too and is a huge Katy Perry fan!

Update 5th June 2011

Eleanor has had some deterioration over the last few weeks and has been struggling quite a bit, so we are back and forth to Evelina children’s hospital for heart tests, neurology etc.

Elle is going to have more surgery on 26th July. Her feet have become severely deformed and we cannot get shoes to fit her anymore so they are operating on her feet to make her more comfortable. We are unsure if she will be able to walk after the operation, but she has proved us wrong before so fingers crossed!

Elle also has a new obsession! Talent shows… Xfactor, Britain’s Got Talent etc, so if anyone wants to write to her and talk about these types of shows she would love it.

Daniel is doing well at his new specialist school and has a real thing for Dr Seuss and Harry Potter and Lego at the moment. Georgina is being a real star and coping with all the stress really well. We had a few tears the other day when we were staying at Demelza House because I think she has just begun to realise what a hospice is, but she is getting support from the Demelza House team. She is really into story writing and reading and has written her own novel!

We will be coming to the Post Pals party on the 25th June and can’t wait to meet you all!

Update 7th April 2011

I would like to say a huge thank you to all at Post Pals for the immense support they have shown us during these hard couple of months.

Update 28th January 2011

Daniel received a card and a pen with an alien/monster topper today. He is so pleased with it, he has been carrying it around all day and telling everyone it’s called a monster boggle pen! Just goes to show how much just one thought from someone showing they care makes a child smile! The card also had pictures of cows on it and a lovely description inside of the ladies (Lynn) children and their dog. It was such a lovely thing to brighten Daniels day. Thank you Lynn, Holly and Jack xxx

Update 9th January 2011

Eleanor is doing well. She unfortunately missed her last review at hospital but will catch up soon I’m sure.

Update 8th December 2010

Eleanor had a bit of a blip after her operation and kept collapsing. After being put on some new medication she seems to have perked up and we are going to see her doctor on 14th December to see how things are.

We have had a few low moments this month but we’re getting into the Christmas spirit now and would like to thank everyone who has sent post! You can be having the worst day imaginable, then get home to some post from Post Pals and realize you can still smile as people do care!

Update 19th October 2010

Just to let you know Eleanor has had her brain surgery and is back home again. We thought she would be in hospital for quite a while but it was decided that she would be better off recovering at home away from bugs etc. We just got home today and she is doing well. Her Post Pals pillow case has been a great comfort to her.

Update 11th October 2010 (10pm)

Elle has had her surgery and is doing well. She is in and out of consciousness but being very brave.

Update 11th October 2010 (2pm)

Eleanor G went down to surgery at 8.30am. We are now twiddling our thumbs waiting and hoping she will make it through.

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent her post. YOU GUYS ARE ALL AMAZING!

Update 7th October 2010

Elle is going into hospital on the 11th October to have brain surgery. She will be in Kings College hospital for 1-2 nights and then will be transferred to Evelina children’s hospital where she will be recuperating for a couple of weeks. She will have quite a bit of recovery to do at home as well before she can go back to school or join in with her friends but we are hoping the operation will slow down the degeneration of her condition and give her some better quality of life.

Elle is very nervous but had a great time on Sunday when several people got together for a sponsored head shave to support her when she has her hair shaved off. Eleanor loves her amazing smiles that come from miles!

Daniel and Georgina have received some beautiful home-made cards, thank you so much to everyone for thinking of the siblings too, they are going through such a tough time at the moment and it is lovely that they are thought about as well. Elle would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been sending her letters, she loves reading about your day and seeing pictures of pets etc, it really has made this time in the run-up to her operation much happier. A huge thank you for the rainbow bandanas!!! As Elle will be having her hair shaved on Monday this will be her prized possession for a few weeks!

Also, a while ago Eleanor was sent a cuddly horse with a voucher to name a star; it was such a lovely thoughtful gift that really made her smile!

I would encourage anyone who wants to fundraise for a charity to pick Post Pals as they do so much for many many families!!!

Update 30th August 2010

We are seeing Eleanor’s brain surgeon at Evelina on Friday and Eleanor will be shown the implants that will be going into her brain and assessments will be made ready for surgery.

Eleanor is taking her Build-A-Bear everywhere with her, thank you so much Dan and Jen, she is even looking forward to taking it to hospital. She has named her bear Cinderella!

Eleanor is going to put a map up in her room so she can mark off where she gets post from, she is very excited that she has received post from different places and can’t wait to show her friends.

Update 22nd August 2010

Eleanor will be having her brain surgery on the 12th October. She will be at Kings College Hospital on the 11th for admission, have the surgery on the 12^th, and then will be transferred from Kings College to Evelina Children’s Hospital on the 13th for a 2 week stay and then further recovery at home. She will be having her head shaved on the 11th too, which is quite scary for her.

Thank you - you guys are amazing.