On 1/1/17, sweet Baby Elias came into this world, 4 weeks early but anxious to join his family. Liz (my sister) and Paul were so excited to meet him! Due to some respiratory problems (initially thought to be due only to prematurity), he was taken to the ICU, where it was discovered that he has Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). This made his parents love only grow stronger!

After more than a week in the ICU at Lake View Hospital, Elias went home for only a couple weeks before he was admitted to Primary Children's Hospital on 1/25/17, and he hasn't been home since. He was discovered to have a large heart defect (an atrio-ventriculo septal defect) that will require major open heart surgery in May 2017. After a roller coaster of oxygen support, intubation, extubation, re-intubation and finally a trach being place, it was found that Elias has a severe life-threatening condition--tracheo-bronchial malacia, meaning his trachea and bronchi are soft and squishy and can collapse at any provocation (like frustration with a poopy diaper). He will need to be in the ICU for probably at least the next several months, and will need a trach for a couple years.

This campaign is to support my sister Lizzy to be able to spend ALL her time taking care of  ALL  her boys--afternoons at the hospital with Elias and mornings with her toddler Simon, and evenings with her boys Andrew, Tommy, and Simon.  Lizzy over the past several years has had a preschool, daycare, and most recently teaches amazing art classes.  She is unable to do this since Elias's birth and they are short about $1500 per month. This campaign will support Lizzy and Paul for at least the next six months (major heart surgery and continued ICU support). 

Please contribute, share, and we thank you for your support!