Support Eloise's Fight Against HLHS

Update: 10/14/24

Eloise has made incredible progress since we first created this GoFundMe, and we are beyond grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and community members. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

On September 16th, Eloise underwent her first major heart surgery, the Norwood procedure. Although there have been several ups and downs since then, we are thrilled to share that she’s currently doing great! On 10/14/24, Eloise is being moved to the step-down unit—an exciting milestone that brings her one step closer to coming home.

Eloise has been in Atlanta since 8/23/24, and we’re all eager to have her home by the last week of October (tentatively), which will allow Ali, Jake, and their son Baker to finally reunite as a family and experience a bit of normalcy. However, Eloise remains medically fragile during this transition period. Her second major surgery is scheduled for December or January, so this time at home will be critical. We need her to stay healthy, with no infections, stable oxygen levels, and good kidney function, as well as ensuring her feeds go smoothly.

Eloise truly is a heart warrior, and her strength continues to inspire us all. If you’d like to follow along with her journey, please join her Facebook group at: Weezie's Warriors.

Thank you for continuing to stand with the Ramsey family during this time. Your prayers, love, and support are making a world of difference!

Hi, my name is Maddie Cartwright, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my best friends, Ali and Jake Ramsey, and their precious daughter, Eloise. Just five days after welcoming their beautiful baby girl into the world, Ali and Jake faced every parent's worst nightmare. What started as a routine morning with their newborn quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency. Eloise developed a sudden, blotchy rash, was cold to the touch, and began breathing heavily. Thankfully, they had a pediatric appointment scheduled around the same time symptoms began. They went to the appointment about 30 minutes early where it became clear that something was seriously wrong.

Eloise was rushed to T.C. Thompson's in Chattanooga, TN via ambulance. After a tense night of stabilization, she was airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). There, doctors discovered that she has a severe congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), among other complications. This condition means that the left side of her heart is critically underdeveloped, making it impossible for her heart to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of her body.

Since then, Eloise has been fighting for her life in the cardiac ICU. The incredible team at CHOA has been working around the clock to keep her stable. She’s shown remarkable strength, even waking up and moving after days of critical care. But this is only the beginning of a long and challenging journey. To thrive and grow, Eloise will need three major open-heart surgeries over the next few years. The first surgery and recovery are especially intense and carry significant risks, but it’s her best chance at a normal life.

In addition to caring for Eloise, Ali and Jake are navigating the challenges of being away from their home in Cleveland, where their two-year-old son, Baker, is. They are spending weeks/months in Atlanta, commuting back and forth to be with both of their children. The emotional and physical toll is immense, as is the financial burden. While they’ve secured food and lodging through caring people and the Ronald McDonald House, the costs associated with Eloise’s medical care are astronomical. Although Jake has a good job, the demands of this situation require him to take considerable time away from work. On top of the existing expenses such as student loans, house payment, car payments, and daily living costs, the medical expenses associated with Eloise's care are overwhelming. HLHS requires specialized, long-term treatment, and even with insurance, the financial burden continues to grow due to the surgeries, ongoing medical care, medications, and unforeseen complications. The financial goal we have set is one that will hopefully accomplish their immediate needs for the remainder of only this year because we have limited knowledge of what the future years will hold.

This GoFundMe is set up to help cover the immense financial strain of Eloise’s care. Every donation will go directly toward her treatments, medications, and other medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance. Your support will allow Ali and Jake to focus on what matters most—being there for their daughter and making sure Baker is taken care of during this incredibly difficult time.

Eloise has already shown incredible resilience, but she needs our help to continue fighting. Please consider donating, and if you’re unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help would mean the world to this family. You can also follow along with her journey on Facebook under Weezie's Warriors.

Specific prayer requests for Eloise:

That her brain remains healthy with no signs of distress or bleeding.

That her lung, kidney, blood, and liver numbers continue to improve so she can undergo surgery.

That her heart rate and blood pressure stabilize.

That the family is given peace and strength during this time.

Thank you for standing with the Ramsey family during this critical time. Together, we can help give Eloise the chance at life that she so deserves.