The Elves Chronicle

A paralyzed girl gets the keys The man shivers and leans heavily on his cane as he makes his way up the dark sidewalk. The suburban home is brightly lit and the driveway is packed with cars. Nearing the porch, he hears laughter and talking, and he pauses. As the Chief Elf of the Elves of […]

Patti Elliot smiles, seeing the excitement on her son’s face. Normally, 18-year-old Riley Pfannenstiel, who is struggling with a malignant brain tumor, has to lay on the couch, conserving his energy. But tonight, December 24, he sits on the edge of the hearth, his eyes shining, his coat zipped. He has already double-checked to make sure

Crysta Baier felt a sense of well-being as she stepped into the luxury limo with her family. Her 13-year-old daughter Ally looked particularly happy and her husband and 16-year-old son also seemed relaxed. Their dinner at an elegant restaurant and this limo tour of the Kansas City holiday lights was a wonderful gift from The

A football fan gives us all some good advise Amy Smith smiled as her 13-year-old son Sam raced down the field, holding tight to the football. He seemed to glow as he ran, his whole being immersed in his favorite sport. It was October 2011, at Summit Lakes Middle School, and Amy stood in the

Janna Lopez’s stomach clenched as she answered the phone. Children’s Mercy Hospital was calling and she prayed it wasn’t bad news.  “Your daughter Caroline has been chosen to receive a special Christmas gift,” the hospital social worker told Janna.  Janna dabbed at her eyes, grateful for any good luck. She peppered the women with questions.

It was an ordinary August afternoon for Anna Sarol.  Before starting her gymnastics warm-ups, 15-year-old Anna texted her mom, nurse practitioner Eloisa Sarol, to find out who was picking her up after practice. Anna had loved gymnastics since she was five and was a promising athlete, having won several Kansas state awards.  As she warmed up on

A boy who dreams of being a policeman is given his first case It was Christmas Eve morning, and Tashawn’s family was acting coy. Four siblings and their mother, Marquita, looked like they had a secret, but no one shared it with their middle brother/son, 15-year-old TaShawn. Still, he noticed that his family seemed a little