Ellena: Life with CLOVES

Only a few hundred people in the world have CLOVES syndrome and Ellena is one of them.

At birth, doctors couldn’t diagnose or explain her symptoms. But after receiving a diagnosis and clarity from our experts in our Vascular Anomalies Center, bubbly and positive Ellena lives with CLOVES every day. CLOVES is a rare type of vascular anomaly that affects the blood vessels and causes an overgrowth of tissues throughout the body. Any part of the body can be affected, causing enlarged formations or deep birthmarks. But Ellena doesn’t let her condition change her sunny disposition.

“I have to go through so many things in my life that I never really thought that I’d have to go through,” Ellena says. “I just try to keep a positive attitude no matter what I think.”

Now at 17, Ellena is heading into her senior year of high school and would love to become a teacher, paraprofessional or work at a day care center after graduation. She has not only enjoyed being a part of theater, but she also volunteers with the CLOVES Syndrome Community and the MaxFund animal adoption center to advocate and spread awareness for others like her and the pets she loves.

While Ellena has had many surgeries and therapies for CLOVES and is managing treatment for returning seizures, she jetted off to Paris to celebrate her 16^th birthday and continues to find ways to live her life to the fullest.