Support the Thompson Family through Baby Ellie’s Surgery

06/06/24 UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Our cranio warrior! Sweet Ellie is doing great. We are settled in to an ICU room. We are waiting to hear if she will need a blood transfusion, but other than that, she’s been a champ!!

We expect her face eyes to swell a little more over the next couple days.”

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06/07/24 MORNING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Rough night for sweet Ellie. Her eyes are swollen shut, she’s uncomfortable, and in some pain.

Pray for comfort. ”

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06/07/24 EVENING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Friday recap- we woke up this morning to a much more swollen baby. Unfortunately the swelling continued as the day went on, but that is normal for this procedure. Ellie has been in pain most of the day, receiving pain meds every couple of hours. The other concern was her high heart rate and lower blood pressure. Steven insisted they keep running labs to check things (idk, I’m not medical), and he was right. She needed a blood transfusion. While that was going on, Ellie ripped out both IVs in her feet. It was super traumatic for us all to watch them try to start a new IV. Tonight we noticed the arm her new IV is in is swollen and bruised, not good. An IV specialist is on the way to start a new one.

But the blood transfusion does seem to have helped her heart rate!

It is so hard, sickening, painful to watch your baby so helpless. Her eyes are so swollen and her face is tight. We pray tonight and tomorrow are better and we can be moved out of the ICU.

On a bright note, everyone here is so kind and accommodating. There are family lounges, showers, quiet rooms, etc. Breaks are definitely needed for your aching heart and mind.

Please continue to keep Ellie girl in your prayers. She’s a trooper!!“

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06/08/24 MORNING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“The head dressing is off and mama is getting some good snuggles.

We should be getting out of the ICU today!”

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06/08/24 EVENING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Saturday update the day started slow with Ellie getting her head bandages removed. She enjoyed some mama and dada snuggles then BAM— she was able to open an eye!! We were all in tears and so excited! As soon as she was able to see a little bit, her whole energy level changed and she seemed overall less frustrated. She was so happy to play with toys and look around at everything!

We also go moved from the ICU to the regular floor. We are off IV liquids and all monitoring devices. Ellie is starting to act a little more interested in regular food, which is great!

We are soooo thankful for such great progress today. We honestly didn’t expect this for a few more days!! We have prayed and prayed she would not be in pain, or be scared and confused and today was an answered prayer.

All day I’ve been singing, “Go Ellie, Go Ellie, Go Ellie!!”

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06/09/24 MORNING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S DAD:

“My daughter is tougher than I’ll ever be.

24 hours ago she was still listlessly lying in her ICU stretcher with eyes swollen shut.

Today, she is acting like nothing ever happened. She still looks like she’s gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson, but you wouldn’t know it by her attitude and activity today.

We truly cannot thank everyone enough for all the prayers, love, and encouragement. It truly has kept us emotionally afloat this past month. We are also thankful for our wonderful family who have stepped up to help. Not to be forgotten is the wonderful team of medical professionals who have the skills to provide this care.

We still have a way to go before life will go back to normal, but our girl is off to a really good start. I’ve learned that nothing else matters but the people in your life, especially kids. If someone had handed me winning lottery numbers last week, I still wouldn’t have been happy. Today, watching my daughter play and feed herself and laugh, watching my wife make her smile, watching the grandparents snuggle her, that’s what is real. Cherish every second you can.”

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06/09/24 MIDDAY UPDATE:

ELLIE IS GOING HOME!

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06/09/24 EVENING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“We are home! I think Ellie is happy to be able to crawl around and explore! We are holding our breath that she doesn’t bonk her head. It is hard to tame miss independent!

The biggest risk after this surgery is an infection in the incision, so we are praying for continued healing with no issues. We are thankful for some time off work to focus on Ellie’s complete healing. We will go back to Vanderbilt in 2 weeks for a follow up with the surgeons.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone for your calls, texts, comments, encouragement and prayers! I didn’t reply to every comment, but I read every one of them! We had people praying for Ellie literally around the world!!!”

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06/10/24 MORNING UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Monday morning update- Ellie had a really really rough night. She was up from 12:30-5:30 crying and unsettled. Yesterday was a lot of abrupt changes, coming off a lot of medications, coming home, probably overstimulated. But she is obviously still in some pain.

Steven is working to contact the doctors for our best options to care for her.

We hate to see her so uncomfortable, so we are praying we find the right solutions for her asap!

Please also pray that she becomes more interested in eating big girl foods again. (Maybe a full belly will keep her more comfortable?!) She’s been turning her nose up at a lot, so far.

*picture- Ellie and her cousin Jackson last night who she has really missed making her laugh!”

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06/11/24 UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

“Tuesday morning update- after a rough Sunday night, Ellie had a great Monday! She played, ate, and napped so well!!

Going to sleep for the night is a different story.

We are not sure if her pain medication is amping her up or what! However, she is continuing to heal and getting back to our happy girl! Thank you for your continued prayers!”

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06/12/24 UPDATE FROM ELLIE’S MOM:

”Wednesday update- Ellie is doing amazing!! She’s playing, eating, napping so well!

However, Ellie is not sleeping at night. It feels like she is scared to go to sleep and fights it for hours, sometimes crying sometimes not. We are exhausted, and I am emotional. (Just being real here!)

Everything we are hearing from the doctors and support groups say this is normal after surgery, but it’s definitely challenging.

We ask that you pray that whatever fear or anxiety Ellie might have about sleeping pass, and also for strength and rest to Steven and I.

We are so thankful for the support of family and friends, we couldn’t do it without you!”

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My name is Jordan White. My wife, Amy, and I have created this GoFundMe account to provide financial support for Amy’s sister’s family, Sarah, Steven, and Ellie Thompson.

Their sweet baby Ellie has been diagnosed with Unicoronal Cranisynostosis and will require surgery to correct the right coronal suture to provide proper brain growth and development.

In the words of her very smart Dada:

“The human skull isn’t one solid piece. It’s several “plates” of bone connected by stretchy cartilage. This allows the infant head to fit through a birth canal. It also allows for the extremely rapid brain growth that goes on the first 2 years of life. These plates usually naturally fuse together at specific points in childhood. By 25 or so, most of them are closed.

The problem is that Ellie’s right coronal suture was closed at birth. This causes the right side of the skull to be unable to grow fast enough to accommodate her brain growth. The opposite side of her face grows outward in response, trying to provide that extra space.”

Ellie’s surgery is scheduled for June 6th at Vanderbilt and will require a 1-2 day stay in the Pediatric ICU followed by an additional 2-3 days in a regular room. Following surgery, the Thompsons will travel from Chattanooga to Nashville on several occasions for post-op visits with Ellie’s team of Doctors to make ensure that Ellie is recovering well.

Any financial contributions that you are able to provide to the Thompsons would be appreciated. Since Steven is in NP school, he does not currently have a job that provides PTO, so any time off will be unpaid. Additionally, the Thompsons will be financially responsible for hotel stays and meals while at Vanderbilt. As any parent would, Sarah and Steven would pay any amount to provide Ellie with the best possible care, but I, personally, want finances to be the last thing on their mind.

Please consider donating if you’re able, any amount will be appreciated. Sarah and Steven covet your prayers as they prepare themselves for this invasive and scary procedure and recovery period.

**a meal train will likely be organized for the weeks following surgery**

Thank you for loving this family!