Stand by Eli and Julie in Their Time of Need

Hi! To those who may be reading, I am Bella, and this past week my 2-year-old cousin, Eli, was taken to the ER where he was diagnosed with influenza A and croup and sent home. (As far as the diagnostics go I do not have the proper terminology or full list) The next day, he wasn’t breathing, and my aunt, Julie, had to call an ambulance. After stopping at the hospital, he was almost immediately transferred by another ambulance to Mott’s Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. He spent four days in the ICU under 24-hour nurse supervision and was placed on a ventilator due to an abscess on his windpipe and a severe lung infection. Things were very touch and go until he was placed in a medical trial to help him get better. Eli is a very strong kid who has been to hell and back this week, to say the least. He was moved out of the ICU and is now recovering and doing better each day! Finally getting some sleep and able to be in his mom’s arms. I saw him crack a smile today and cannot stress how tough my cousin is. Through all his pain, he is managing to whisper some words and get down some solid food, though still being tube-fed to make up the calories. After being intubated several times, along with the damage to his larynx and vocal cords, I can only think he is trying to comfort all of us missing his cute babblings and voice.

As he continues to get better, I’m hoping to raise some money to support my aunt Julie. She is a single mother of two, a hard worker, and an incredible person—honestly, probably my best friend and one of the kindest people I’ve met. It’s really true how bad things happen to the best people, and as weird as it sounds, I am so proud of how strong both she and Eli have been throughout this.

She’s had to miss a lot of work to be by Eli’s side during this difficult time and will definitely continue to be there as he recovers. She is a big believer in karma, and I hope her many years of having a large heart will have some sort of cosmic justice or karmic retribution or be a part of God’s plan, if you will. One of my earliest memories of my aunt was when we were drawing with sidewalk chalk, one of our favorite hobbies we had, and I had an ant crawl on me. My instinct at that age was to get it off me as fast and as violently as I could, but she stopped me.

She wouldn’t even hurt a fly truly applies to my aunt.

I know she would never ask for any help herself, but your support would mean so much to our family during this time and to help her out after the past week.