Welcome back to Elijah’s Bravehearts!

I am excited to be participating in my Eighth Year of the Walk for Children’s event.

I walk in honor of my very special little boy, Elijah James! Most of you know Elijah’s story and that he has been on his medical journey with Children’s Hospital since he was 2 days old.

For those of you that may not know, Elijah is a medically complex warrior who has navigated through his first nine years with more courage and resiliency than most of us ever could imagine. - Elijah was flown to Children’s Hospital at 2 days old, where we learned that he had Coarctation of the Aorta and multiple heart defects and would need open heart surgery. Elijah experienced a few set backs after his heart surgery and was not able to breath on his own without the ventilator. After many tests, x-rays, scans and more labs, we learned that his right diaphragm was paralyzed and he would need another surgery. Since then, with the help of Children’s Hospital, we found out that Elijah has 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by a missing part of his 22nd Chromosome and can affect almost any part of his body. Since his first two surgeries, Elijah has had eleven additional varying surgeries done at Children’s Hospital and follows with multiple specialists at CHP to keep watch on his multiple health issues. Elijah continues to follow with Cardiology, Nephrology, Immunology, Endocrinology, ENT, Cleft-Craniofacial, Genetics, Ophthalmology, Child Development Unit, Dental, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Speech Pathology & Audiology, Pediatric Surgery, Colorectal Center and Physical Medicine and Rehab, all at Children’s Hospital. Elijah looks forward to going to his checkups at CHP and ending each appointment with a cakepop.

Children's has been and continues to be phenomenal with Elijah and this is our way to give back. We are forever grateful for all of the staff at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and everything that they do. We are so blessed to have Children's in our backyard!

Elijah continues to be an inspiration to us. He amazes us each day and pushes himself to reach all of his goals. He is a very happy, smart, loving and caring little boy and so, so incredibly strong. Elijah continues to be full of joy and for the most part be a “typical” little boy despite everything that he has been through and continues to go through. He is even able to pursue his favorite activity, Ice Hockey! His personality and kindred spirit is contagious and he truly lights up an entire room with it!

Help us reach our goal and Give Kids a Chance To Be Kids by donating to our team and/or joining us as we walk on June 7th. We thank you for helping us reach our goal and Giving Kids A Chance To Be Kids!