My granddaughter Ellionna is just five years old, and she’s about to face a challenge that no child should have to endure. Ellionna is autistic and needs extra support, and now she’s preparing for not one, but three open heart surgeries. She has a hole in the middle of her heart and a tear in her mitral valve, which is causing blood to leak into the right side of her heart and making it enlarged. The doctors in Orlando are working hard to help her, but the journey is long—each trip to the hospital is nearly two hours, and the road ahead is filled with uncertainty.

These surgeries are critical, and Ellionna’s recovery will take time. Her mother will need to take off work for three to four weeks to be by her side as she heals, and the bills don’t stop while she’s home. The funds raised here will help cover gas for travel, rent and other bills, and supplies like bandages, surgical tape, and care items for Ellionna. We also want to make sure she has activities to keep her spirits up during bed rest, and support for possible physical therapy, since she needs a little more help than most kids her age.

We’ve never asked for help like this before, but Ellionna’s surgery is next Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, and we need your support. Anything helps, and if you can’t send anything, prayers are much needed. This is a very scary time for myself and my daughter, and we appreciate everyone and anything you can give. Thank you for being here for Ellionna and our family.