Help Support Ella’s Recovery Journey

Ella has faced more medical challenges in her young life than most adults ever will—and through it all, she has shown remarkable courage and resilience.

Since early childhood, Ella has battled ongoing eye and health complications. This past year, however, has been especially difficult.

In December, Ella underwent surgery for a retinal detachment and macula separation. Despite everyone’s hope for recovery, complications from the surgery left her legally blind in her left eye. It also meant saying goodbye to the sports and activities she once loved.

Just as she was adjusting, new symptoms emerged. By the end of spring, Ella developed floaters in her left eye and needed a second retina surgery on June 2nd. Instead of enjoying summer and her 7th-grade year, Ella spent a week face-down recovering—missing out on sunshine, friends, and beach days.

Then, in early July, things took another turn. Ella began experiencing high fevers, joint and neck pain, severe headaches, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which had progressed to neurological Lyme and caused a stage 1 heart block. She began treatment in Pittsburgh, completed her antibiotics, and thankfully began to feel a bit better.

Ella was even able to attend a long-awaited family reunion in North Carolina—a rare and much-needed joyful moment. But on the way home, she began slurring her speech. When it happened again later that night, her doctors sent her to Children’s Hospital for further evaluation.

After a full day of testing by neurology, infectious disease, and ophthalmology teams, the results were overwhelming: optic nerve inflammation and stage 3 hemorrhaging caused by increased brain pressure. Both of her optic nerves are now swollen. She’s begun new treatment and is under close observation.

Through all of this, her parents, Rob and Nicole, have not left her side. But the constant care, travel, and medical needs over the past year have drained every bit of paid time off—and added a heavy financial burden to an already emotional journey.

Ella has lost a lot this year—her vision, her summer, and many of the everyday joys of childhood. But what she hasn’t lost is her spirit. She still finds light in the little things—especially building LEGO sets during long hospital stays.

How You Can Help:

If you feel moved to support Ella and her family, your donation can help ease the financial strain of:

• Unpaid time off work

• Medical expenses and travel costs

• Daily living needs for Ella and her siblings

• Small joys for Ella, like LEGO sets and creative activities

Whether you’re able to donate, share her story, or send a kind word or prayer, every gesture makes a difference.

“When you feel like falling… kneel.”

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being part of Ella’s Army.

—with love and hope,

Ella’s Army

P. S. Ella Rose is my great niece (my Godson's daughter) and is a wonderful example of a gift from God. Her family is doing all they can to support her and needs some help!

My heart is telling me to step in and I hope you will too,