The Meyers Family in honor of Elliot

Many of you know the Elliot story because his mommy Bri Allen Meyers has been very open about their journey. As a quick recap here is the shortened version; We were expecting Elliot in September of 2022. In June Bri got sick and a diagnosis of preeclampsia and pneumonia was missed. She was sent home from the hospital, but her instincts sent her back to the hospital where she advocated for herself (as she does for her own patients as an LCSW at Moffit Cancer Center) and they started treatment. Things did not progress as we had hoped and both Bri’s and Elliot’s lives were in danger. It was decided that she needed an emergency C-section to try to save them both. Thankfully Bri recovered quickly, but Elliot arrived at 26 weeks and 6 days gestation. We knew we were in for a long road in the NICU with him. 138 days in the NICU included intubation and sedation which is normal for premie babies. Two weeks in he got e-coli which led to a long list of problems including an oscillator, oxygen treatments, antibiotics, watching for brain bleeds, and feeding tube, and many other scary moments. October 31, 2022 Bri and Jordan were able to bring Elliot home with oxygen support and continuing tube feedings and Bronchial Pulmonary Dysplasia.

The next few months the Meyers family thrived. Elliot got stronger and showed all of us that he was going to get better in his own time, but that he was stronger than all of us. Bri was able to go back to work after she found a wonderful home daycare that was able to meet Elliot’s needs.

In January Elliot got the flu. We knew these illnesses would hit him harder due to his BPD. Unfortunately he had two more typical childhood illness in a short period of time that he seemed to bounce back from as we planned his 1st birthday party but we did not know that his little lungs did not have a chance to recover between the illnesses and he was hospitalized on June 5, 2023 after being diagnosed with Non COVID Coronavirus. Things declined very quickly and Elliot has been intubated, sedated, on a paralytic, temporarily on the oscillator again (which if you haven’t seen in person be thankful). We have had several scary moments, and small success and Elliot once again is showing everyone that he is stronger than all of us and will do things on his own timeline.

Bri has been by his side day and night and Jordan is working as hard as he can to continue to provide for his family during this difficult time.

We know there is still a long road ahead which will not allow Bri to go back to work anytime soon. Additionally, it will be in Elliot’s best interest to stay home with a in home caregiver rather than go to daycare until he grows out of his BPD more. Any funds raised will be used specifically to compensate for Bri's loss of income and in home care for Elliot when he is well enough for Bri to return to work.

Bri and Jordan and two of the most fiscally responsible young people I know, so they planned for some of the back and forth issues, but this current situation is more than they could have planned for in a short year.

All of the grandparents appreciate any help that Bri and Jordan receive as we also do everything we can to support our children and the miracle baby Elliot.

Thank you so much,

The Grandparents