Elliot’s CDH Story
Elliot was at first diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy, conceived while having a Mirena IUD, but the ectopic pregnancy, by miracle, shifted into the right place.
During pregnancy, at around 20 weeks, Elliot was diagnosed with Left-Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). We were told the severity of his case required further scans, and we were flown to Brisbane to see if he would qualify for FETO surgery to improve his odds. Unfortunately, he wasn’t eligible.
His liver had moved up into his chest, compressing his lungs and heart. The doctors gave him a 15% chance of survival and warned us that if he made it, he would spend at least eight weeks in NICU. It was impossible to prepare for news like that, but Elliot had his own plans.
On April 20, 2022, Elliot made his grand entrance into the world. Against all odds, he began breathing over the ventilator within hours—something the doctors told us wouldn’t happen. He was already showing us his strength and resilience.
At two days old, Elliot underwent surgery to repair his diaphragm. We braced ourselves for complications, but in true Elliot fashion, he surprised us again—no patch was needed. His recovery was swift, and he was on high-flow oxygen for only four days.
Feeding became one of his biggest hurdles. Elliot faced difficulties with feeding in the NICU, a challenge that still remains a big struggle today. But even through this, he persevered. After a month in the NICU, Elliot came home far earlier than anyone expected.
Elliot’s journey hasn’t been without bumps. His lung has required ongoing care, and he relies on asthma puffers and preventers, especially when illness strikes. He’s going through early intervention for social and developmental delays whilst working hard in speech therapy to manage feeding difficulties, weight gain struggles, and suspected aspiration issues.
But he does not let any of this stop him, his vibrant personality and zest for life. Despite everything, he’s now an active, thriving little boy who will be 3 years old soon.
This year, he even performed in his first dance concert, where he was so in his element and had no struggles keeping up with his peers. His sense of humor is unmatched, his fashion sense is as bold as his spirit, and he continues to inspire us every day.
