Shower of support for little Eli

Eli is the son of Tony and Rachael Dorn and grandson of Tony and Connie Dorn and

Guy Finstrom and Teri Knochenmus . This little peanut, born at just 22 weeks and 1.3 pounds on November 20th, 2022 is a miracle baby.

Eli spent the first seven months of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit fighting to live. He has proven time and again to be an incredible tiny warrior with all he has overcome, including multiple surgeries, infections and medical obstacles not thought possible. Eli is finally at home starting his healing and growing journey with his parents and eight-year-old brother Tony Charles. The future for this miraculous, adorable baby boy is bright.

The Dorn family has made many life-changing adjustments to accommodate the around-the-clock care that Eli will need. There are so many that have reached out asking how to help. This fund has been created by friends and family to show enormous love and support to let Eli and the Dorns know that they are not alone. ❤️

Letter from Tony and Rachael

Dear Family and Friends,

We would like to thank you for the countless thoughts and prayers that were said for our son Eli.

No one is ever ready for the unexpected!

On November 20th we were blessed with our 1lb 3 oz baby boy. Eli was born at 22 weeks and spent 7 months in the NICU.

The exhaustion of spending months at the NICU, sitting through the unknown as hours turned into days waiting for answers.

The doctors told us that Eli had little chance of making it and there were possibilities that he would have some special needs.

When Eli was born, we weren't able to hold him because he was so tiny and fragile. He was put in an incubator with breathing tubes and a feeding tube.

The first time the NICU nurse handed us Eli, she was so careful, He was hooked up to so many cords and the constant beeping and buzzing is forever in our hearts.

The first time Eli grabbed our finger with his tiny hand was his way of telling us how much of a fighter he is.

Eli has faced every challenge given to him, feeding tubes, breathing tubes, 5 surgeries on his digestive system, laser eye surgery and soon there will be an additional surgery.

Now that Eli is home, he will have weekly visits from his nurse for the first year to monitor his growing progress.

We are also parents of an eight-year-old, and keeping everything balanced is our new challenge. We are facing the challenge and trying to find our new normal.

There have been struggles, therapy, countless prayers, and specialists, and with help from the providers, our family and friends, we have been given the strength that continues to lift us up even in our darkest moments.

Eli is our miracle child and an inspiration for hope to other parents that deliver babies that need to spend weeks or months in the NICU.

The months to come will be far from normal. Rachael has chosen to stay home with our two boys, to give the extra care Eli will need for his first year.

We appreciate all the encouragement our family and friends have given us, especially your prayers.

Sincerely, Tony and Rachael