Hello, my name is Peyton Ballard, and I’m reaching out to share about my daughter, Eliza. We are currently raising funds to let her see Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for a virtual second opinion, as they are ranked the #1 pediatric G.I. hospital in the country.

Eliza is currently under the care of a team at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, but because her condition is so rare, even her doctors have encouraged us to seek an additional opinion from specialists who may have more experience with her case. Our hope is that Cincinnati can offer new insight and options

Eliza has a rare condition where her large intestine is pushed completely to her right side and is also too large for her body. Because of this, she cannot digest food normally, has severe stomach distension, struggles to gain weight, and has difficulty passing normal bowel movements.

Her large intestine is also “floppy,” which allows it to move around inside her abdomen. This puts her at risk of it twisting or wrapping around itself a dangerous complication that could become life-threatening.

We’ve spoken to many doctors, but her condition is so unusual that even specialists are unsure how to proceed without extensive research. Our best hope is to seek care at a hospital that routinely treats some of the rarest gastrointestinal conditions in children.

Below, I’ve included pictures showing Eliza’s colon compared to what a normal colon should look like.

Sadly, because I am under 18, GoFundMe will not allow me to be listed as the beneficiary. Thankfully, my grandmother, Chastity Ballard, and I have linked bank accounts so all funds sent to her will go directly to me for Eliza’s second opinion.