Eline Continues to Inspire Years Later | FEATURE

In November 2019, 10-year-old Grace Eline was honored by the Devils during the organization's Hockey Fights Cancer night. Eline had recently finished treatment for a germ cell brain tumor and became an inspiration for the Devils players, coaches, and greater community.
"It's kind of a reminder that there are bigger problems in the world than what we're going through," Devils forward Jack Hughes shared with Mike Morreale back in Nov. 2019. "You can have tunnel vision just thinking about hockey non-stop and not realize there are bigger problems in the world, so for her to join us and to learn about what she's overcome is pretty inspirational and it makes you see the big picture a little bit more."
Fast forward three years and Eline is healthy, happy, and giving back with her charitable initiative, With Grace.

"Grace Eline is such an amazing young woman," said Justin Edelman, SVP of Corporate Partnerships at RWJBarnabas Health. "She was part of Hockey Fights Cancer several years ago and made an incredible impact on the entire team and the community. And she's here helping raise the spirits of everyone in this building."
"We started With Grace, it'll be two years (in Dec. 2022). Our main goal is we want to raise awareness for childhood cancer and also (give) direct care for patients and their families like giving care packages or even talking to them one-on-one and making sure they feel ok," Eline said. "We've done a lot of advocacy just at the state level and we've tried to help pass some bills which is pretty exciting. We've also, especially during the pandemic, have brought individual meals, and toys to different families who were finishing, starting, or going through their treatment and we're hopefully going to continue that throughout the year."

Over the holiday season and the end of 2022, Eline's initiative hung holiday lights throughout several hospitals in the RWJBarnabas Health network including Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, where the 13-year-old started her treatment back in Apr. 2018.
"We decided to put up some holiday lights just around where people are usually getting treated," Eline shared. "Our main goal for this was basically, it's horrible to have cancer as a kid during the holidays so we wanted to bring a lot of cheer, and hopefully make people feel like it's ok and that somebody is thinking about them during the holidays."
In addition to spreading holiday cheer and decorating her former treatment center, Eline had the opportunity to reunite with Hughes and show several Devils players around the Valerie Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
"It was awesome since it's been three years since I talked to him and it was nice for (Hughes) to see the lights and the work we're doing," Eline shared.
The Devils Alternate Captain was excited to see how Grace is and how she's giving back following her battle with cancer.
"It's obviously good to see her in good spirits, she's doing great," Hughes said. "We're really happy for her and she's doing a really special thing here, it's really inspiring."
Eline, Hughes, Miles Wood, Erik Haula, and Mackenzie Blackwood went around the Valerie Center, looking at the decorations and meeting with several patients in treatment. The trip was impactful for both players and patients alike.
"To come here and see some kids, if you put a smile on one kids face it helps. It was a good day coming here," Hughes said when the Devils visited Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in December. "We're all a part of this community … a lot of people support us so we're just sending it back to the people that support us."
"Just to put a smile on their face especially around the holiday season, that's what this day is all about. Just to give back to them, show our support towards them and the hospital staff," Wood said about the hospital visits. Wood also remembers Eline from Hockey Fights Cancer and was happy to see her years later.
"To see her progress has just been outstanding. She's trying to give back as well and it was a great day to spend with the guys and see some kids."
From being honored by the Devils to helping others in treatment, Eline continues to inspire and serve her community years later.