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Elizabeth Lytle

@efoxlytle

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Wife, Mother, & Friend.
Integrator at @contractordynamics.
Founder of @memphis_marketing_connect.
“We make a life by what we give.”

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Hey, so…WE’RE CANCER FREE!!!!!!!!! taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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7 months ago

This is just how we feel this morning, but all 5 of us are wearing our lightning bolts for Mighty Little (grumpy) Maya.

A lightning bolt in this community symbolizes a couple of things: a life altering disruption, and a mindset of courage and strength.

Today we are all channeling that energy for Maya, our fighter, our strong, brave, grumpy, little force of nature. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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9 months ago

The big scan is here, friends. Tomorrow we have labs and scans all day and we are joyfully walking into the hospital tomorrow knowing God is good.

We have every reason to believe we will be celebrating Wednesday morning when we get clear results, but the reality is that we don’t know what the future holds. We know what we have in front of us right now and we are thankful for that.

Maya is happy to be going to @stjude because she’s grown to love her care team and the whole campus. They do such a good job of making it a really special place to be.

It feels like I’ve lived a whole lifetime since the diagnosis and somehow still the treatment flew by in seconds.

Will you please pray with us tomorrow? Do a dance for us? Send good vibes? We will take it all. Thank you all for your support this whole journey. ❤️ taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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9 months ago

TODAY IS *LORD WILLING* OUR LAST DAY OF CHEMO!!!! 🙌🎉🙌🎉🙌🎉

After today we will still have labs, a few other appointments, and then our final scans, but we are going to dance our way through our last chemo treatment and praise the Lord we’ve made it this far!

A very Merry Christmas week indeed! taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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10 months ago

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it: December edition. 🌲⭐️🏮 by @efoxlytle

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10 months ago

@stjude Half Marathon Race recap: people from all over the world, from all 50 states, from all walks of life came together and raised millions of dollars for the hospital that welcomed us, housed us, fed us, and comforted us while we, as parents, went through what every parent hopes they won’t.

Night one, I heard Dr. Milena use the word “cancer” referring to Maya for the first time. It took the wind out of me, but they literally held our hands and explained every single step and cared for us as parents while saving our 2 year old child. That is how St. Jude operates: research to save every child, and unbelievable support for every patient and patient family.

This wasn’t some random race. This race is the single biggest fundraising event for St. Jude. Truly the best place to be if you have to hear those words.

At mile 1 and mile 2 and mile 4 and mile 11, people we love, who also supported us through raising money and/or driving and flying in to be with us, were waiting to cheer us on. Their support means everything to us and has impacted other children and families of St. Jude, as well.

To our community, near and far, thank you. We love you so much. ❤️

To everyone who ran for St. Jude last weekend, as a patient family, please know, your support literally saves and changes lives. ❤️

In the words of my children, “our mommy got a medal! She won!” So, thank you for your support, as I “won” the St. Jude Half Marathon. 😉 taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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10 months ago

Will you move with us tomorrow? Wherever you are, tomorrow at some point will you take a walk or go for a run and hold space, think, pray.

I’d love to gather videos and pics from any of you who move with us tomorrow. Please text or DM me or share a story and tag me. We want to show Maya that people all over everywhere are rooting for her and for the other kids at “her hospital”.

Tonight we took her with us to get our race bibs and I told her that the thousands of people there were running for @stjude and she gasped and with her beautiful wide eyes said, “for me?!” ❤️😭

Yes, for you, Mighty Little Maya. We move for you. ❤️💪 taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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10 months ago

“Could you tell something was wrong?” “How did she get it?” “How did you find out?” “Do you know why she got cancer?”

I’ve gotten these and other similar questions many times.

Something to keep in mind - parents of children with cancer ask themselves if it is their fault. We play our children’s lives over and over in our minds carefully analyzing and wondering.

In the quiet hours after Maya was wheeled away for a major surgery to remove the tumor on her kidney, I heard a little voice telling me that her cancer was because of me. That it might happen to my other children because of me. That my actions or choices led to my child’s suffering. Now, if another parent said that, I’d stop them immediately, tell them not to think that way, and explain how unhelpful and foolish that thinking is, but, we’re harsher with ourselves, aren’t we?

So, when you ask a parent why or how their child ended up that way, please consider the way you ask. Please consider that they may be wrestling painfully with that concept, as well.

For our family, we are open, and happy to answer questions, but please be aware as you approach others.

As I reflect on all of the internal growing and redirecting we’ve had to do over this time, I cannot help but be thankful. The sweetest baby and now the sweetest toddler has forced us to lean on God and each other in ways we never imagined.

It’s weird how through all of this we are tougher and softer all at once. More sensitive and empathetic because we’ve experienced deep pain and fear yet stronger and less breakable because when you climb from a valley, you develop serious muscle.

Mighty little maya, we love you so ❤️ taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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a year ago

It’s hard to articulate the way it feels to see your tiny “sleeping” child limp in hospital clothes on a rolling bed with tubes and needles and monitors surrounding her. There’s this hollow yet immensely weighty feeling of helplessness that becomes overwhelming quickly.

Maya has been through more at 2 than many adults have. She’s resilient and funny and full of energy and joy and wonder despite chemo and cancer and antibiotics and scars and an endless stream of new medical people touching and pricking and pushing. Every week I’m so surprised by her energy and smiling face and bright spirit.

Sometimes I’m heartbroken because we’re just asking too much of a 2 year old who doesn’t understand any of this. Be calm while a stranger pushes a needle into your chest week over week. Stay still while we strap you to this hard bed and put you into a tube for imaging. Live life every day like a “normal” child while chemo and antibiotics wreck your immune system and yet simultaneously *hopefully* rid your body of any cancer that remains. Sometimes I tell her I’m sorry, when she feels poorly or is hurting and she says, “no, you not sorry” and it’s a little funny but sometimes it hits me like a punch in my stomach. Sorry? Sorry, but we keep doing it? Week over week? How can she understand? How can she process what’s happening?

You might read this and think we feel hopeless or miserable or fear or anxiety or frustration and yes, those fleeting feelings are there. But nothing, and I do mean nothing compares to the peace we can somehow find in knowing that there is a good God and that His hand is on this. Sure, this isn’t what we would have chosen for our 2 year old but we know she is now and will continue to grow into her name sake: Maya, a bright light. Caroline, a joyful noise, the most brilliant, kick ass, spirited, kind girl. I’m so incredibly proud of her and thankful to be a supporting player in her story. ❤️ taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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a year ago

Too many kids grow up believing the labels adults put on them : “bad kid,” “too much,” “troublemaker.” Those words can stick like scars, shaping how we see ourselves for years. But the truth is, labels don’t define you. You are more than what they said you were.

Stop waiting. Start listening.
The full episode is live on Apple or your favorite app now → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-fish-cares-podcast/id1605993052

#Podcast #MindsetMatters #OvercomingLabels #ChildhoodTrauma #Healing #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #InnerStrength by @efoxlytle

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a year ago

“There is a mass. It is impressively large.” “This is a right now problem.” “If you had to choose childhood cancer, this would be the one to choose.”

A few weeks ago Maya (our 2 year old) was admitted to St. Jude’s Hospital because her right kidney had a tumor the “size of a small watermelon.” After a successful surgery, we have started 19 weeks of chemo on her tiny body.

Here’s what I know from my short time traveling down this path with a little, sleepy, sour patch baby patient.

God is good all the time. Even when I’m confused or sad or frustrated or overwhelmed. Through faith in Him, truly the scariest situations have been bearable and weirdly, even a blessing.

Our lives have completely changed, but God knew this was Maya Caroline’s story before we even knew her. My girl is a damn fighter and I’m so honored (albeit exhausted) to be chosen to walk this journey with her.

Many of you have prayed, called, texted, and messaged. Thank you so much for your support. We feel all of it and couldn’t be more grateful for our community.

Kiss, hug, say I love you, advocate for your and your family’s health, be present. Life is wild. Love y’all 😘 taken in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by @efoxlytle

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a year ago

Do it anyway.

You might look weird. They might say no. You might “fail.” They might laugh at you.

You either play it safe and hold back or you write a damn good story full of tries and fails and mistakes and ups and downs and an incredible life resume.

If you’re like me, you’ve thought way too long and hard about what other people think or might say. You dwell on what could go wrong. You’ve missed out on opportunities because you’re afraid to fail.

My most recent incredible experiences and memories come from taking a little leap, saying the quiet part out loud, and not giving a damn what others think.

If you’re like me, let’s effing do this. Let’s be main characters. Let’s think less and do more. Let’s build and try and go and get our hands dirty.

If I can do it, so can you. by @efoxlytle

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a year ago