Meet Mighty Ellie

February Mighty Bee: Ellie’s Story

Finding out she was pregnant with Ellie was an incredibly exciting moment for Erin, who had always dreamed of becoming a mom and having a family. The early months of her pregnancy were smooth and free of complications—until the night of November 6, 2019.

At just 24 weeks pregnant, Erin’s placenta unexpectedly ruptured, and she immediately began having contractions every 30 seconds. Erin’s parents rushed her to the nearest hospital, where Ellie was delivered right away, weighing just one pound. Ellie was immediately placed on life-saving machines and flown to Levine Children’s Hospital.

Erin did not get to meet her daughter until eight hours later, after being discharged and driven to Levine’s. Even then, it would be another week before Ellie was stable enough for her mom to hold her for the first time.

In Ellie’s first days of life, doctors did not expect her to survive. She had suffered two massive brain bleeds, which led to hydrocephalus and epilepsy. One of the most difficult moments came on Ellie’s third day of life, when doctors met with Erin and her family to explain that Ellie would likely not survive and encouraged them to consider removing life-saving support. They also explained that if Ellie did live, her quality of life would likely be very limited.

Erin and her family chose to continue fighting alongside Ellie for as long as her little body continued to fight as well.

Today, Ellie is six years old and is known for her happiness, strength, and resilience.

Since birth, Ellie has undergone 18 surgeries related to her hydrocephalus. Despite everything she has faced, she greets each day with a smile and continues to make impressive gains in her mobility. Ellie currently uses a gait trainer to get around and is making exciting progress toward walking independently.

A typical day for Ellie includes attending kindergarten, something she absolutely loves, followed by multiple therapy sessions each afternoon. One of the most beneficial therapies for Ellie has been DMI therapy, which is also how her family discovered Bee Mighty. DMI therapy, combined with Ellie’s daily therapies, has played a major role in helping her reach milestones and continue progressing toward her goals.

Erin hopes Ellie’s story offers encouragement to other families navigating the NICU. Her advice is to remember that every child grows at their own pace and that parents should never stop advocating for their child, especially when the child cannot speak for themselves. Erin also emphasizes the importance of parents caring for their own mental health throughout the journey.

Ellie’s strength and determination continue to inspire everyone who meets her, and she is a shining example of what it truly means to be a Mighty Bee.