A Special Request for a Special Boy

This is my husband's cousin, Elliot. You may remember that I have mentioned him before. Today is a big day for him. He is having major surgery, performed by the best surgeon in the nation for his specific condition. Please pray for a successful surgery, peace for his family (Heather and Jay), quick healing, and a chance to go HOME for the first time!

Here is his story, in his mother's words:

On January 25th of this year, I gave birth to a beautiful boy, Elliot (4 lbs. 12 oz, 17.5 inch). He was born with a rare esophagus condition, known as Long Gap Esophageal Atresia. We had a hint of his condition before he was born but didn't know it would last so long or transport us across the country.

The day after Elliot was born he had his first thoracotomy to try to connect his esophagus (surgery #1). It didn't work. The surgeons had determined he was a tougher case than they initially thought. He had a gap in his esophagus that was greater than 4.5 cm. Our surgeon had only seen three cases like this in his 25+ year career. Surgery #2 was an emergency repair of his stomach after surgeons had accidentally perforated it during one of Elliot's contrast studies. Surgery #3, the most recent, was another thoracotomy. They thought the esophagus was connected but that too failed. Surgeons in Long Beach were trying to prepare us for a plan we didn't want. A plan that would require several more surgeries over several years. This option was not good enough for us. We searched for better and we found it in Boston.

The Children's Hospital of Boston is one of the top hospitals in the country. And it is becoming a referral center for Esophageal Atresia. In the past two years, the doctors have treated over 7 EA babies successfully! After just two days of speaking with the Boston surgeons, both hospitals and our insurance company, we were flown out on a medical learjet to New England. It has been a whirlwind of activity but one that is filled with hope. Elliot's next surgery (hopefully the last) is planned for August 17th. We will have the dream team of medical surgeons present and they nearly guarantee a repair of the esophagus.

It has already been a long and stressful road for all of us. Elliot is now six months old and has never been out of the hospital, he has never been home. One of these days we'll get him there.

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Thank you all for your prayers for this special boy. As of 6:30 a.m., Elliot has been taken back for surgery. I will update my blog as the day goes on.