Elliott Races to a Brighter Future

Elliott is wise beyond his years and full of heart in every way that matters. He zips around on his scooter, sprints down the soccer field and runs with his parents, Sarah and Chris. 

 

Before he was born, they learned he would have a rare condition called Shone’s Complex. The left side of his heart could not pump blood effectively. Yet his spirit never missed a beat.

 

After birth, Elliott and Sarah had two minutes of skin-to-skin contact before he was transferred to Children’s National Hospital. Nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit greeted him with applause. “I felt so certain he was going to be more than okay and completely cared for,” Chris says. “Elliott’s comfort was the priority in every moment.” 

 

In his first 10 weeks, he had two successful heart surgeries to increase blood flow. He also had a gastronomy tube inserted to help him get the nutrients he needed to grow. 

 

COVID-19 restrictions meant that Sarah and Chris had to rotate their hospital stays. Long nights with beeping machines meant they saw little of each other. One day, a nurse told Chris, “You and Sarah need all your strength, energy and love for when Elliott comes home. So go rest, go on dates and get ready to take care of your son.”

 

“That changed everything,” Chris says. “Before that moment, it felt selfish not to be with Elliott. But without that advice, I don’t know how we would have survived the weeks ahead.” With trust in Elliott’s care team, they made it through his 75-day stay and welcomed him home with gratitude.

 

Two additional surgeries at ages 1 and 4 improved the blood flow into his aorta and adjusted the pressures in the left side of his heart. While he likely has another surgery ahead, he thrives with a cheering squad at every check-up. “Children’s National is a part of Elliott’s family,” Chris says.

 

Today, Elliott follows in his parents’ footsteps. After watching his mom place at the Race for Every Child 5K Run/Walk, he looks forward to earning his own medal at the Kids Dash. “Since he was five days old and overcame his first surgery, all he’s done is cross finish lines,” Chris says. With world-class care, Elliott takes on each day ready to set his personal best.