Elianna Ariel Russell

Elianna Ariel Russell

The name Elianna means ‘my God has answered me.’ God truly answered our prayers when Elianna Ariel Russell was born on August 3, 2000. She came into the world with a loud voice announcing her arrival to all! The first day she was born she held her head up.
Elianna was the most joyful, vibrant and friendly little girl. Everyone she met was her friend. Proverbs 18:24 says that “A man who has friends must show himself friendly. She exemplified this verse throughout her life. Elianna spent her grade school years at Peek’s Chapel Elementary. Her mother taught there. She was privileged to have many gifted educators. During these years she developed a love for music and a passion for writing and reading. In middle school Elianna became very active in band. She played the alto saxophone and she was in concert band and jazz band. In 8th grade Elianna told her parents that she wanted to attend Heritage High School. Her parents told her to pray because at the time Heritage was not an option. Elianna’s prayers were answered when Rockdale County Public Schools announced the beginning of the Performing Arts School at Heritage High School. Elianna auditioned and was accepted to Heritage High School Band Department. Her prayers were honored when God allowed her daddy to switch jobs to Rockdale county. This enabled her to have adequate transportation to school. Every morning, while they rode to school, Elianna and her daddy would read and meditate on a bible verse and pray. Being a member of the Heritage High School Marching Band was the highlight of her high school years. She participated in bible study with the family throughout her life.
Her passion for helping others led her to work in the children’s ministry at The Church at Covington. Elianna chose and was accepted to The College of Coastal GA in Brunswick. Her love for people and all life led her to pursue nursing as her career. While in college Elianna made the Dean’s List. She worked at a Christian organization called Brave Heart helping middle and high school students. Elianna showed kindness, love, patience and sweetness to all who came in her path. She bestowed love on all humanity. She died from a very rare form of Lupus called C.A.P.S. which means Catastrophic Antiphospholipid (Anti – foss – fo- lip-pid) Syndrome. Despite years of testing and scans it was very hard to diagnose and treat until it was full-blown which was – 1 1/2 weeks ago- which was too late. Doctors told us that all these symptoms and behaviors that previously could not be explained were linked to Lupus CAPS. To go thru all that and get as far as she did was amazing. She was doing the best she could without wining or complaining all these years. Our girl was a hero. Elianna was always a giver. Elianna donated both of her kidneys to two recipients. Elianna saved two lives. Also, her body will be used for further research on the causes of her rare condition of Lupus so that it might someday save even more people. Elianna Ariel Russell now resides in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is rejoicing and having a wonderful time. We miss her so much but we know that God’s ways are higher than ours. We are so thankful that we had our beautiful baby girl for 18 years.