Our sweet 7-year-old nephew, Ellis, has been facing an unimaginable health battle that no child should have to endure. Born with a heart defect—specifically a bicuspid aortic valve—Ellis has always been at risk for infections. A few months ago, Rachel & Chris started noticing unsettling changes in him: he was unusually tired, lost interest in playing, and began losing weight without explanation. His energy levels plummeted, and soon they noticed his fingertips and toes swelling. It was a terrifying realization that something was seriously wrong, but they had no idea just how serious it would become.

Ellis had been overdue for an echocardiogram to monitor his heart, but before they could get it scheduled, his condition took a rapid turn for the worse. On November 5th, after running up and down the stairs, they noticed his heart was pounding so loudly that they could hear and feel it. His chest was visibly pulsing with each beat. After two trips to the ER and a pediatric cardiologist, doctors dismissed their concerns, even though Ellis’ symptoms were worsening every day. Out of desperation Rachel & Chris took him to Children's Health on November 14th, since he was only getting worse. After more tests, they were given the shocking diagnosis: Ellis has endocarditis, a life-threatening infection that affects his heart, and his aortic valve has become severely damaged.

Now, Ellis needs open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. He is also undergoing a 6-week course of IV antibiotics, administered through a PICC line. His surgery is scheduled for around Thanksgiving, but we are still waiting for final confirmation from his cardiologist and the surgical team.

This has been an incredibly difficult time for Ellis and his family. Chris will need to take time off work to be by Rachel & Ellis' side for several weeks while Ellis undergoes treatment and surgery. This means that Ellis' family is facing significant financial hardship, as Chris will be unable to work for the next 4-6 weeks.

We are asking for your support to help ease the burden during this critical time. Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward covering:

Ellis is a strong and brave little boy, but he has a long road ahead of him. His family is doing everything they can to help him heal, but they can’t do it alone. Your generosity will make a world of difference as they navigate this incredibly challenging time. Every bit of support helps us get one step closer to seeing Ellis healthy and happy again.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, love, and support. Please keep Ellis in your prayers as he faces this battle with courage and strength. He’s a fighter, and together, we can help him win this fight.