update: September 26th 2024

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved son, Eli John Hudson, who was taken from us too soon on 25 September, 2024 at the tender young age of 7 weeks old. Eli took his last breath at 7:27pm surrounded by his loving family.

Eli was a strong baby boy, every day for seven weeks, he continued to fight very hard for his life until his tiny fragile body became too tired and weak to withstand all of the medical obstacles he was faced with. Eli had a heart defect, poor lungs, a spinal defect, a massive hernia affecting his intestines, clubbed feet and much more standing in his way. Eli continued to push through day in and day out but it was abundantly clear he was getting tired and that my sweet boy was destined for heaven.

Eli John was only with us for a short amount of time but left a huge impact on all of our lives. We will hold Eli in our hearts until we can hold him in heaven. I deserved my baby like any mother and the loss of our son has left my family and I in pain and suffering. I am now the mother of an angel baby, the most handsome angel up in heaven.

Always in our minds, forever in our hearts.

**update: on Tuesday Eli got confirmation that he contracted a blood infection on top of pneumonia in his lungs. He is also retaining alot of fluid in his body. Eli is fighting very very hard at this point. His heart and lungs are very tired. we also found out that Eli has restricted lung disease and another issue with his heart that we were unaware of, Eli also has a VERY big hernia that is squeezing his intestines and is a very very big concern for him. If it bursts it can be deadly for him. And he also needs to go back in to the cathlab to fix his heart again. Eli cannot get surgery for either because of his condition. So everyday is critical for him to get better. My self and my mom have been staying in Orlando for the last 3 days now because at one point Eli was so critical. My husband I are exhausting funds we do not have. Eli is expected to be here for months. ** I will update as the days pass. ** 

 

Hi everyone! As most of you know, my family and I found out that our sweet baby boy Eli has a rare congenital heart disease/defect, a spinal issue and clubbed feet when I was around 20 weeks pregnant. The last 17 weeks of my pregnancy I had to take the long trip out to Orlando twice a week for extensive testing and ultrasounds. It has been a bumpy road for our baby and family! But baby Eli’s journey began on August 8th, he was born weighing in at 8 pounds, 13 ounces. He was taken to the NICU right away and has been spending his days there fighting hard. Every single day he is improving with some bumps here and there. On August 23rd we finally had what the hospital calls “a family meeting” to discuss when and what we were going to do for Eli. On Friday, August 30th, our boys first procedure will be performed - a cathlab procedure on his heart, this procedure will allow Eli to have some time to grow more and recover at home until they are ready to do his first open heart surgery of many to follow. We will have to make bi weekly trips out there to Orlando for check ups. The cost of gas to get out there and back, food costs while we are there, tolls to and from and Codi having to take off work with no pay and the times he will have to take off work in the future has been and will be stressful financially to say the least. We decided to create a gofund me so we can have this cushion to rely on when bills start piling up, if Eli needs something that insurance won’t cover, medical expenses along the way, gas for trips out there, etc. With Eli being a cardiac baby, he will need donor milk. I tried to do my best to pump for him but unfortunately I was just was not producing. Insurance does not cover this expense so this is something else we will have to cover financially. Eli is going to have a very long journey ahead of him not only for his heart but with his spine abnormalities and clubbed feet that will require a lot of appointments and possible surgeries in the future which will also take place in Orlando. We ask that you please say a prayer for us and keep our special boy Eli in your thoughts. Thank you so much!