Elise's medical journey

Hi, my name is Jess Marlow, and I am an aunt to a beautiful little girl named Elise Wee. Elise is the daughter of my sister Samantha and brother-in-law Brandon. I am starting this fundraiser to help raise money that will help with medical costs with her upcoming surgery, medical needs (now and future) with her ongoing medical appointments and equipment needs. Both Elise's parents are so amazing, but like the rest of us, they have a hard time asking for help. I am hoping that the money raised here will help in so many ways and take away some of the stressors on them as parents.

And now for Elise's story....

Elise has been diagnosed with some very complex and serious medical diagnoses. Most of this stems from a virus called Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV). Elise got this virus while Samantha was still pregnant with her. It likely came from a child that was sick this virus that had come in contact with Samantha. (They didn't know she contracted the virus until her newborn screening detected it after birth.) This virus has cause other numerous diagnoses as well, and Elise will have these lifelong diagnoses.

Another complex and rare diagnosis that Elise has is a malformation in her brain. This is called Brain AVM/AVF, (a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare, abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain that can cause serious neurological damage.) Elise is seeing a local Neurologist (in Sioux Falls) for this, however, with the complexity of this malformation, her local neurologist referred her to neurologists at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Elise is scheduled for surgery on her brain to correct this malformation at the end of January at Boston Children's Hospital. Surgery is needed because we've been told it will more than likely rupture sometime in her life which would cause a severe medical emergency. It can also cause a reduce of oxygen to her brain.

"We continue to put our faith in God and know that she will overcome these hurtles. Elise is so strong, so brave and persistent! We are so blessed to have all the support and prayers we have received so far!"

-Samantha Wee

If you feel inclined to do so, please consider a monetary donation to Elise's fundraiser to help cover the upcoming and ongoing medical cost. We also would like to ask for prayers and well wishes for her upcoming surgery. We thank each of you for all that you have done!

God Bless!