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Ethan is the bravest boy I have ever met. He was five years
old when I had the privilege of meeting his acquaintance. I
was greeted with a firm hand shake and a smile that brought
sunshine to my soul. I new that my life would never be the
same because in that moment I realized I had met my son.
Ethan’s father and I were married on May17, 2008. Together
we have three children Mackenzie seven, Sariah thirteen and
Ethan nine years old.
On my first date with Ethan’s father I learned that Ethan had
undergone two open heart surgeries, one at 10 months and
one at 24 months. He was born with a congenital heart defect
called Sub-Aortic Stenos is. It is a rare heart condition he
inherited from his birth mother. Ethan was fortunate enough
to have The Children’s Hospital of Denver Co. near by
because this condition only affects 1% of the population. On
top of that, Ethan has an aggressive form of the disease so
most surgeons would not consider operating on him. However
Dr. Cambel and Dr. Shafer at Children’s Hospital bravely took
on his case and with God’s help saved his life as a little baby.
This brings us to the present and another open heart
surgery. Ethan’s original condition caused a hard membrane
of tissue to grow across the bottom of the Aortic valve. During
his first surgery the doctors cut away the membrane hoping it
would not return. Unfortunately it did just 14 months later.
The doctors then decided to remove it a second time and
place a mesh patch in to prevent the membrane from growing
back. The trauma on the heart caused the Aortic valve to
leak. This created an inefficient system of blood flow within
the heart. Now after 7 years of this inefficient blood flow the
Aortic Valve itself is beginning to harden and stiffen. This
makes the burden on the heart far too much for his little body
to handle. The bottom of the heart is pumping so hard to get
the blood circulated that it is beginning to enlarge. Ethan’s
doctors are currently meeting with a panel of specialist to
come up with the best possible solution to this problem.
A question you may be asking yourself is what can I do to
help? First and foremost your prayers are always welcome!
We serve a big God and all things are possible through the
Lord who strengthens us. Secondly we are putting on a
benefit to help raise the 11,000 dollar deductible his father
and I will have to pay the hospital for his surgery. We will be
having food, music, cake and plenty of raffle and silent
auction items available. The details will be coming soon once
we have an exact date of Ethan’s surgery. Thirdly we are
always willing to accept donations. All checks are to be made
out to The Ethan Eldridge New Heart Foundation. All
proceeds will be given directly to The Children’s Hospital to
cover his hospital bills. If by God’s grace we receive above
and beyond our 11,000 dollar deductible we will be consulting
the hospital to connect us with other families in a similar
situation and the foundation will help pay their hospital bills.
In addition, the simple act of showing up to the benefit and
showing Ethan the amount of support and love that is behind
him will only help him see his way through this difficult
process.
As I said before Ethan is the bravest boy I know because
even after surviving against all odds two open heart surgery’
s, abandonment from his birth mother at the young age of
three and having physical restrictions put on him his whole
life, he has managed to be the sweetest, most sensitive and
loving little boy. I am so grateful God has blessed me with this
remarkable sprit to love, nurture and adopt as my own son. I
ask you from one mother/parent/friend to another please
help my baby boy come through this with any means you
have.
Thank you and God bless,
Jaime Eldridge
12711 N. Colorado Bldv. K1103 Thornton Co. 80241
old when I had the privilege of meeting his acquaintance. I
was greeted with a firm hand shake and a smile that brought
sunshine to my soul. I new that my life would never be the
same because in that moment I realized I had met my son.
Ethan’s father and I were married on May17, 2008. Together
we have three children Mackenzie seven, Sariah thirteen and
Ethan nine years old.
On my first date with Ethan’s father I learned that Ethan had
undergone two open heart surgeries, one at 10 months and
one at 24 months. He was born with a congenital heart defect
called Sub-Aortic Stenos is. It is a rare heart condition he
inherited from his birth mother. Ethan was fortunate enough
to have The Children’s Hospital of Denver Co. near by
because this condition only affects 1% of the population. On
top of that, Ethan has an aggressive form of the disease so
most surgeons would not consider operating on him. However
Dr. Cambel and Dr. Shafer at Children’s Hospital bravely took
on his case and with God’s help saved his life as a little baby.
This brings us to the present and another open heart
surgery. Ethan’s original condition caused a hard membrane
of tissue to grow across the bottom of the Aortic valve. During
his first surgery the doctors cut away the membrane hoping it
would not return. Unfortunately it did just 14 months later.
The doctors then decided to remove it a second time and
place a mesh patch in to prevent the membrane from growing
back. The trauma on the heart caused the Aortic valve to
leak. This created an inefficient system of blood flow within
the heart. Now after 7 years of this inefficient blood flow the
Aortic Valve itself is beginning to harden and stiffen. This
makes the burden on the heart far too much for his little body
to handle. The bottom of the heart is pumping so hard to get
the blood circulated that it is beginning to enlarge. Ethan’s
doctors are currently meeting with a panel of specialist to
come up with the best possible solution to this problem.
A question you may be asking yourself is what can I do to
help? First and foremost your prayers are always welcome!
We serve a big God and all things are possible through the
Lord who strengthens us. Secondly we are putting on a
benefit to help raise the 11,000 dollar deductible his father
and I will have to pay the hospital for his surgery. We will be
having food, music, cake and plenty of raffle and silent
auction items available. The details will be coming soon once
we have an exact date of Ethan’s surgery. Thirdly we are
always willing to accept donations. All checks are to be made
out to The Ethan Eldridge New Heart Foundation. All
proceeds will be given directly to The Children’s Hospital to
cover his hospital bills. If by God’s grace we receive above
and beyond our 11,000 dollar deductible we will be consulting
the hospital to connect us with other families in a similar
situation and the foundation will help pay their hospital bills.
In addition, the simple act of showing up to the benefit and
showing Ethan the amount of support and love that is behind
him will only help him see his way through this difficult
process.
As I said before Ethan is the bravest boy I know because
even after surviving against all odds two open heart surgery’
s, abandonment from his birth mother at the young age of
three and having physical restrictions put on him his whole
life, he has managed to be the sweetest, most sensitive and
loving little boy. I am so grateful God has blessed me with this
remarkable sprit to love, nurture and adopt as my own son. I
ask you from one mother/parent/friend to another please
help my baby boy come through this with any means you
have.
Thank you and God bless,
Jaime Eldridge
12711 N. Colorado Bldv. K1103 Thornton Co. 80241
My Heart is in Your Hands
