Elliott’s story

"He's a force to be reckoned with."

Like many children, Elliott Kirby bounced back quickly after falling down the stairs at home in Bangor, Maine. At first, nothing seemed wrong — until the next day, when his left eye began to drift.

"One day, he was fine. The next day, he was on his way to life-saving surgery," says his mother, Elena.

Doctors at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center found a tumor and diagnosed Elliott with advanced retinoblastoma. The only option was to remove the two-year-old’s eye.

Following an urgent trip to Boston Children's Hospital, four hours south of their home, the procedure was completed through what Elena describes as "an intense roller-coaster of emotion."

Through our Fuel the Care program, the Kirby family was able to use Irving Oil’s fuel gift cards to help cover the cost of travel.

Nearly two months later, Elliott received his first prosthetic eye.

“I knew everything was going to be OK once we got home and he ran off to play with his big sister,” says Elena. "She is proud to be his biggest advocate — helping educate other curious children about his 'special eye.'”

For more than 20 years, Fuel the Care has helped more than 120,000 families across New England, Eastern Canada and Ireland who travel for their children’s medical care.

By fueling up at Irving Oil, you support Fuel the Care — helping families like Elliott's.

Thank you for making a difference.