Today marked a significant milestone in Eloise’s life – she started school.
Like many children, Eloise marked the occasion with the obligatory photo by the front door in new school shoes and a (slightly) oversized uniform.
Eloise was excited, proud, and was definitely ready to start – not showing any hesitation and eager to join her friends as soon as she got through the school gates.
When we picked her up later – she had clearly had a blast and is looking forward to going back tomorrow already.
It was a remarkable, emotional, and memorable day on many levels
- The fact that Eloise is here to enjoy the day is remarkable.
- The fact that Eloise can attend a mainstream school is remarkable.
- The fact that a mainstream school is willing to provide the support, encouragement, and love upon Eloise is remarkable.
- The fact that Eloise is “ready for school” is remarkable.
- The fact that Eloise is confident and has friends she can enjoy the day with is remarkable.
- The fact that Eloise can attend school with her sister Anna is remarkable.
- In many ways, the fact that Eloise’s day was unremarkable – mirroring that of thousands of children starting school – is remarkable.
This is fitting for a remarkable girl – Eloise has had to fight and fight hard for so many years on so many fronts to get to this rite of passage.
The African proverb about “taking a village to raise a child’ seems apt here. A lot of love, hours, support, care, and prayer have gone into making today remarkable.
We are so deeply grateful to so many – thank you.
There are too many people to mention by name, but we felt it right to say a special thanks to Rydes Hill Preparatory School. It is staggering the amount of paperwork, foresight, perseverance, commitment and sacrifice that a school needs to do to accept, support, and educate Eloise – Rydes Hill has gone above and beyond for us as a family to make today a reality, we are both deeply humbled and forever grateful.
Today has been a good day.
P.S. Thank you to everyone who has asked about our holiday (after Eloise was medically cleared to fly for the first time since treatment). Eloise had no issues with flying and we all had a fabulous time in Majorca. Eloise’s highlight was swimming every day – and our highlight was seeing her swim a width independently and unaided – go girl!
Eloise Zoe 
This news is utterly wonderful and miraculous. What a milestone for her. We praise our Heavenly Father for her continuing progress. Hallelujah!
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Hello Dear Friends,
How utterly amazing for which we give HIM our heartfelt thanks.
what a journey we have been on together.
Please may we have a copy of the picture to update our ones in the house ??
Thank you
Peter and Ruth
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Wonderful news, Eloise is looking so grown up and so happy. Thanks to God for his many blessings. Love to all the family. Xx
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wonderful news! We will continue to pray for healing and health.
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words cannot describe how happy we are for you as a family and we continue to hold you in our prayers Godbless Lynda and David xxxx
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What a beautiful, longed for and hoped for update, which no doubt felt very far off or impossible at times…. thank you, thank you thank you God!
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Eloise you are remarkable and a fighter. Thankyou Lord for being with Eloise on this journey every minute of the day . Have a fun time in this new term .x
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Such wonderful news! Thank you so much for keeping us in the loop. We pray that the coming term will continue to be remarkably ‘unremarkable’!
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what a fabulous and faithful God we have. Bless you abundantly. Love Lindsay – work with Yvonne!!
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What an exciting and praiseworthy update. Our church prayer team continue to pray for Eloise and the entire family every week. They will be thrilled to hear the wonderful news and see her photos. Thank you so much for keeping us all updated from time to time.
Stan Harrison
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what a faithful, loving God we serve. He heard the prayers and has responded with love, providing near-miraculous treatment and medical expertise. Glory to our loving Lotd
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Wonderful news about this major milestone!
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Dear Mel and Pete,
Thank you so much for sharing this news and the pictures. What a miracle. So thrilled !!
A remarkable day and little girl, but also remarkable mum and dad and big sister Anna.!
Much love,
Seringa
Seringa Dudley
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That’s amazing news! And they both look lovely in their uniform.
Biddie
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what a wonderful update nothing short of a miracle. , love the first day photos and only too soon the uniform will be on the small side , so glad u are keeping up the blog so many of us love Eloise and Anna from afar !!
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Aww, bless Eloise and your family.
what a journey you are on.
Praise God for Eoise, and for giving your family the Faith and strength to manage all those tough times.
Continued prayers for Eloise, for healing and continued protection 🙏
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What a wonderful email to receive, pictures adorable, such an amazing milestone reached and pray she will amaze her family well into the future. Bless you as a remarkable family.
Shirley Brightiff
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This is all so encouraging to hear 😍. Praise the Lord for His love, provision and faithfulness.
Onward and upward. And may Eloise enjoy her second day at school and the day after that and the day after …
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Thank you so much for such a wonderful update on such a marvelous Milestone.
When Niki first asked us to pray for Eloise and you all, we prayed with such urgency and believed, like many, for a miracle. Eloise is truly a walking miracle and such an inspiration. We continue to pray for Eloise and all of you.
May our God continue to bless you all and fill you with His peace, love and joy.
blessings
Baz and Karen Towell
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So wonderful to receive this glorious update on Eloise.
That you had a lovely holiday together, and now she has started school. We prayed so hard for her, as many others did. It’s so lovely to see that those prayers were answered and she is well.
So thankful to God. Bless your lovely family.
With lots of love,
Mary & Erik xx
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Have a great year at school EloiseZoe! Always delighted to hear good news about your little girl!
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I share in your joy as I so admire Eloise and her courage.
The Spirit is around you and I give thanks for all His mercies.
tom
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How wonderful. What a joy!! What an answer to prayer. She will remain on my prayer list.
Praise the Lord.
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I think you are all remarkable!
Just so pleased for you all.
Rosemary ( Mikes Mum) xx
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This is such good news I am so happy for all of you! I hope Eloise continues to thrive at school.
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