Hi there from Cape Cod! I'm Sue, little Elijah’s great-grandma, and my partner in this fundraising effort is my daughter, Kristi, Eli's grandma.

At almost 4 years old, Elijah is the 2nd youngest of 4 children. This summer, his mommy noticed he had a curvature of his spine. After a visit to the pediatrician, he was quickly diagnosed with scoliosis. An MRI at Boston Children’s hospital clearly showed the cause of his scoliosis is Chiari malformation. This condition is often congenital and happens when the skull is misshapen or smaller than what is typical causing pressure and forcing part of the brain down into the spinal canal. His most recent complaint is that that his “eye hurts” (most likely headaches—which is common due to the pressure). He also has to wear a brace to correct his scoliosis (as seen in the picture). The hospital gave him a dinosaur who also wears a brace. Elijah is scheduled for surgery at Boston Children’s in November to remove part of his scull in order to allow room for his brain and relieve pressure.

Mom and Dad work very hard for their four children—both working 2 jobs. This diagnosis makes their lives feel "uncertain" for what the future holds as he most likely has a long road ahead. Eli goes to Boston for his care and that means a more than an-hour drive each way and having to take time out of work for both parents. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any donation, no matter how small, will be so appreciated.

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