A brave Scots teenager undergoing gruelling treatment for brain cancer was left all smiles after her community threw her a surprise motorbike-themed birthday party. Ellie, 17, from Livingston, West Lothian, was diagnosed with metastatic pineoblastoma - an aggressive brain tumour - in 2018 when she was just 12-years-old.
After extensive treatment and a six-month hospital stay, the schoolgirl’s condition was stable until a scan last year showed new tumours had formed. The teen, who lives at home with her mum Elaine, dad Roy and two big sisters Rachel and Kylie, has now been moved to palliative care as her condition sadly deteriorates.
To celebrate the schoolgirl's 17th birthday, the West Lothian community rallied together to throw a huge surprise party that gave Ellie the chance to be a normal teenager for the day. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, mum Elaine said: "Our Morrisons community champion Fiona Hendry was talking with a customer called Stevie and was telling him about Ellie and making memories.
"He's part of a biker group and he reached out to them and members of the Royal British Legion, the Dunedin chapter riders branch and individual riders all wanted to come and give Ellie this surprise. We brought Ellie out to the back drive and all these bikers drove through and stopped in the street.
"To say that she was amazed is an understatement." The teen was even gifted her own personalised leather jacket with unique patches for her ride with the bikers.
Elaine added: "Ellie was presented with her very own leather vest with patches already sewn on it. She was also gifted teddy bears, flowers, money, gift cards, patches and stickers.
"Ellie then had a ride around our area and then we went to the Morrisons' car park where they all sang happy birthday to her. We went to the Saltire where the staff had gifted teas and coffees and Morrisons gifted cake and biscuits.
"The bikers were also so generous in donating to the Marie Curie charity. When we left the Saltire Ellie said 'I don't know how you're going to top that surprise, maybe we should hire a hall next year and have a party.'"
The surprises didn't stop there and the following day Ellie was thrown a huge party in a local town hall with a DJ that all her school friends could attend.
"Little did she know that was happening the next day. Thanks to Arleen Waddell and the committee from the Goth in Armadale we were gifted the hall, the DJ and the bar staff.
"Dawn Adams reached out and gifted us chair covers, a photo booth and a telephone booth so guests could leave a message for Ellie. Elaine McGreskin gifted Ellie a birthday cake and Claire Eyles donated amazing birthday cakes," the happy mum said.
The most rewarding part of the celebrations was creating treasured memories and the opportunity for Ellie to feel like a normal teen for the day. Elaine explained: "Seeing her sitting with friends and family and just being like a normal happy teenager was amazing.
"On Monday her sister Rachel took Ellie and her friends to Kaspar's dessert place and then to Fountain Park to play mini-golf. We went to see the new Dungeons and Dragons movie.
"Ellie is now shattered but we have made some amazing memories. She is now resting as she is back on her chemotherapy."
The teen is back on chemotherapy at home but was absolutely delighted with the special day to mark a birthday she was told she wouldn't make it to.
You can donate to help the family make memories for Ellie and keep up to the date with her progress here.
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