Ellie Maus's CDH Battle

Our sweet baby Ellie needs some prayers! At our 20 week anatomy appointment on May 28th, my primary OB noticed that something wasn't right with Ellie's organs. On June 3rd we had appointment with a high risk OB at East Jefferson, which led to a referral to the Maternal Fetal Center at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. On June 12th, after a day full of extensive testing, Ellie was diagnosed with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia or CDH. CDH is a rare birth defect where part of the diaphragm either does not form, or has a hole in it, that allows organs from the abdomen to move into the chest cavity. We know from multiple ultrasounds and a Fetal MRI that Ellie falls in the Moderate category, but she is borderline on being in the Severe category. Short version: her stomach, intestines, and part of her liver are in her chest cavity causing her heart to be on the right side of her body instead of the left and making it difficult for her lungs to develop. As long as Ellie is growing inside of me, she is 100% okay. Her long battle will truly begin the moment she is born, when she has to use her tiny lungs to breathe on her own. She will have to be placed on a ventilator at birth to help her breathe and she will be taken directly to the NICU. Ellie will have to undergo emergency surgery within the first few days of her life to put her abdominal organs in the correct place. She will then be in the NICU for weeks(or months), depending on how long it takes for her lungs to get strong enough to work on their own. Ellie is due October 12th, but because of the risk of preterm labor, on September 1st we will have to move to Houston so Ellie can be born at Texas Children's Hospital where they specialize in CDH and can give our little girl the best chance at survival.

How you can help:

PRAY for us! We truly believe in the power of prayer, and Ellie needs as many people praying for her as possible.

Donate, if at all possible. Jonathan and I know we will have a rough road ahead financially. We will be living in another state for an indefinite amount of time. Jonathan will go back and forth from Houston to Reserve to work until Ellie decides to make her grand entrance into the world. Once she is born, we plan for him to stay with us until Ellie is stable and ready to come home. Unfortunately, while his job is secure, this time off will be unpaid.

Donations can be made through this website or can be mailed to:

The Maus Family
191 Marmillian Loop
Reserve, LA 70084
(Checks can be made payable to Jonathan or Samantha Maus)

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any help you are able to give! Please check back for updates!