Hi, my name is Anna, and I am the founder of Charitable Creations.

When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with brain cancer just moments before being rushed to the only neurosurgery office open at 5:00 PM—Pediatric Neurosurgical Specialists in Dallas, Texas. Elizabeth and Dr. Sacco welcomed my family with compassion, staying after hours to console us as we faced the first chapter of my fight against pediatric brain cancer.

After a six-hour brain surgery under Dr. Sacco’s care, my tumor remained stable for five years. But when I was 18 and in college, the fight resumed. Since then, I’ve undergone five more brain surgeries, including procedures that drained over 150 ml of fluid from cysts that still remain in my brain today. The lasting effects of treatment left me with limited mobility on my right side and vision issues.

During those years, one of the people who helped me process my recurrences was my dear friend from the cancer community, Taylor Roth. In 2024, Taylor passed away, and on the very day she left us, I stumbled upon a crochet pattern for her favorite animal: an elephant. Crocheting quickly became both a form of physical therapy and a way to channel my grief into hope. I began donating elephants to children fighting the same battles, with the support of Elizabeth, Dr. Sacco, and the incredible team at Pediatric Neurosurgical Specialists.

In early 2025, another of my closest friends and greatest supporters of Charitable Creations, Sofia Torres, also passed away. Remarkably, her favorite animal was an elephant as well.

To honor Taylor and Sofia, and the comfort and selflessness they embodied, we’ve donated more than 150 animals to Dr. Sacco’s Pediatric Neurosurgery office and over 230 stuffed animals (most of them elephants!) in total, all in their names. Charitable Creations exists to continue their legacy: spreading comfort, joy, and hope to children who need it most.