<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=03PrhK_0vlE17id00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=03PrhK_0vlE17id00" width="645" height="1200" ><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2h0ueS_0vlE17id00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2h0ueS_0vlE17id00" width="741" height="1200" ><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3A1572_0vlE17id00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3A1572_0vlE17id00" width="1014" height="1200" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2ZeHzi_0vlE17id00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ZeHzi_0vlE17id00" width="850" height="1200" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0pyVAl_0vlE17id00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0pyVAl_0vlE17id00" width="855" height="1200" ></figure>DALTON This community tends to wrap its arms around its residents – especially when they need an extra boost of support.The town is cheering for and lifting up a young cheerleader who is feeling the love as she’s bravely pushing through a challenging time.Ella Thomas has some battles ahead of her over the next year and a half as she undergoes cancer treatment but the tough 12-year-old is winning the fight.Just over a month ago, Thomas was diagnosed with cancer.She was experiencing some health issues and her parents had taken her to be checked out a few times at an urgent care. The active Dalton Middle School cheerleader also dances competitively, enjoys musical theater, and is known for her smile and energy. The family thought she may have pulled a muscle during one of her activities. When the pain didn’t subside they went a step further and had testing done at Akron Children’s Hospital. Everything happened quickly once the diagnosis was made. She was in the hospital for 15 days. A treatment plan is in place for the next 12 to 18 months, including chemotherapy and possible radiation therapy and a stem cell transplant.“It’s something you never think you have to deal with,” said Justin Thomas, Ella’s dad. “We had to adjust. Our normal has changed basically, and the community has made that a lot easier than it is with all of the support we’ve been given from our friends and family and the community and people we consider family because neither Theresa nor I are from Dalton.”The family has resided in Dalton since 2010. Ella and her younger sister, Ruby, who is in the third grade, used to attend Rittman where their mom, Theresa, has taught kindergarten and first grade for the past eight years. Their dad, Justin, used to be a professional baseball player and since retiring after the 2015 season his occupation has been in medical sales. Thomas was a pitcher and he played in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. He coaches and manages with the help of other coaches an 8u and 10u fall softball program and a 10u spring softball team in Dalton.Ruby is involved in softball and she will be a guest player in a tournament Oct. 12 in Ontario, Ohio. Tournament proceeds will go toward the Thomas family.Coming up, Rittman’s volleyball team will be playing their Volley for a Cure game against Smithville 5:30 p.m. Sept. 26 with raffle baskets available and proceeds going toward the family.Ella is undergoing her third round of chemotherapy. Between treatments she’s also in and out of the hospital for testing and office visits. On days she feels well enough she attends school, otherwise she is able to keep up with school work from home or the hospital. Thomas said the school has been helpful about working out a virtual teaching plan and providing her with materials she needs.She also has cheered for games when she feels well enough. She may be a bit more isolated as cold and flu season picks up because her immune system will be compromised from her treatments.Thomas said his daughter is known as being happy, kind and positive with an electric smile that lights up the room.“When she’s around the vibe is very high,” he said.September happens to be Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and recently Dalton’s varsity football team ran out onto the field with yellow ribbon stickers on their helmets and the cheerleaders had yellow ribbons on their uniforms with the words #EllasFightSquad.“Dalton has done a lot of things,” Justin Thomas said.Brittany Jarvis, owner of J &amp; Co Hair Studio and Spa, has created bracelets, shirts and a pop-up shop and more to help out the family during this time.“We can never thank everybody enough for stepping up and helping us in a time of need,” Thomas said. “The community has been great.”Thomas said he has a long list of people to thank and he is grateful to everyone who has shown support — some people he doesn’t even know. At the top of the list are Brittany and Doyle Jarvis who are good friends who have become like family. Terri and Phil Siders and other family members, Erin and Mark Siders, and Cortney and Cliff Staley have all stepped up to help in a variety of ways.“They’ve lifted some of that burden of wondering what we’re going to do,” Thomas said. “They’ve stepped up and done whatever we needed them to do.“Thanks to the Jarvis and Siders family and the community as a whole from top to bottom people we know … people we don’t even know they send meals and put them on the porch … the support from the community is something we’ll never be able to repay or thank everybody,” Thomas continued.Ella has been strong and tough throughout, Thomas said. She will take a year off of dance at Starlight School of Dance in Massillon because competition dance requires much commitment. The dance school also has shown their support for her and she hopes to return to dance after her treatment plan is complete.Even small special things like cheerleaders putting her name on their shoe strings in beads has touched her heart.“Everybody’s been super,” Thomas said. “We couldn’t ask for better people or a better community to be going through this with. Parents and kids and her friends. The younger girls have brought baskets and made bracelets. Everybody has rallied around her.”The Thomas family is trying to keep things as normal as possible and Thomas said he can’t thank everyone enough.So far, his eldest daughter has been in good spirits, Thomas said.Recently, Dalton girls basketball coaches Jason Moyer and Makenna Geiser and members of the team stopped by and gave her a basket. The Dalton girls basketball team will have a raffle fundraiser Nov. 14 at Dalton High School during the foundation game against Orrville to benefit the family. Ella told her parents she felt like she was famous because of everyone showing their support.“She lights up,” Thomas said. “It makes her feel good.”</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

#EllasFightSquad Dalton cheerleader battling cancer gets lift from community

DALTON This community tends to wrap its arms around its residents – especially when they need an extra boost of support. The town is cheering for and lifting up a young cheerleader who is feeling the love as she’s bravely pushing through a challenging time. Ella Thomas has...