Hello, I wanted to set this fundraiser up for my friends as they are going through this very difficult time. Any donations, shares, or prayers are greatly appreciated!

I asked to summarize what is going on with their 6-year-old little girl named Ellie so that I could share with you guys, and this is what they had to say:

As many of you are aware, our heart warrior, Ellie, is in the hospital. She was born with several congenital heart defects, including her heart being on the wrong side, but because of how many defects she has and how different her anatomy is, doctors call it a “complex heart.” Despite all odds being against her, we have been blessed to watch her grow and thrive the last 5 years.

Since her surgery on Nov. 13, which consisted of 6 different procedures, each to essentially make her heart as normal as possible and avoid having a heart transplant later in life, she has struggled off and on with her heart and organs. On Nov. 17, we found out Ellie had suffered multiple strokes, and shortly after, Ellie’s heart function severely declined, and she went into organ failure.

On Nov. 21, after exhausting all medicine options, Ellie’s care team here at OU Children’s gave us the news that Ellie would need to be put on life support and gave her a 50% chance that she would not survive. For several days, our daughter’s heart and organs were supported only by machines, and we prayed with all our might that this battle she has fought so hard wouldn’t take her away. Recovery has been HARD. Ellie was able to come off ECMO, but she is still on a ventilator, on a dialysis machine, and being heavily sedated.

Aaron, Emmy, and I are grateful to be staying at the Ronald McDonald House during this time, but our younger daughters have been staying with my mom due to them being too young and not allowed here at the hospital. Our heart hurts knowing they can’t be here with us, but it’s one of the many sacrifices made because we know the importance of trying to keep their lives as normal as possible with their daily routine so they can continue to thrive.

We cannot thank everyone enough for continuing to stand with our family during this time. Your prayers, love, and support are making a world of difference during this time of need. We will try and continue to keep everyone updated about Ellie as she continues to fight this fight. She is truly a heart warrior, and her strength never ceases to amaze us!