Elijah was born with the odds stacked against him. He was diagnosed with double-inlet left ventricle (DILV), hypoplastic aortic arch with coarctation (L-TGA), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and pulmonary stenosis. He has 9 coiled collateral veins, two stents, excessive pressure in his lungs, diastolic dysfunction, and is hypoxic.  What all this means is his heart has been trying desperately to pump his blood but the plumbing is mixed up and subsequently the oxygenated blood gets mixed with blood yet to visit his lungs. Thus oxygen levels that his little body needs to live vary from day to day.

He has had multiple surgeries throughout his short life and has been in and out of the hospital multiple times before being referred to Seattle Children’s by OHSU. He was scheduled to have his Glenn surgery on April 26, 2024. The Glenn surgery is a procedure to reroute some of his oxygen-weak blood back to the lungs for another run for the precious oxygen his body needs. Unfortunately, while getting tests done to prepare, it was determined that Elijah’s condition progressed into heart failure. 

He was diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction, which is where the heart walls are too thick and the heart doesn’t relax like it should.  It’s been working too hard for too long.  His little heart is doing all it can.

He is currently in the ICU and is waiting for a new heart. Elijah is on a lot of medication and is currently on the transplant list. Throughout this entire process, Elijah possesses incredible resiliency and courage. Hospitals have been his home, he’s had more procedures and endured more pain than anyone should. He has a smile that lights up the room, plays with his older brother, and is incredibly smart. He loves Bluey and knows every kid’s movie the hospital has. He loves finger painting, learning new things, and is superb at building LEGO sets. He loves bubbles and on a good day, travels in his wagon to explore outside his room and meets the nurses and doctors during rounds. Despite having tubes and wires hanging off of him, he loves to walk short distances and play. Although it can be scary, his team monitors him to ensure he is getting enough oxygen.

 Haley and James, Elijah’s parents, have done everything that they can to ensure he has as normal a childhood inside a hospital as they can. Due to all the hospital stays in Oregon and Washington, long days, and hardships, they have struggled to keep their family afloat. Throughout this experience, one parent has had to stay with Elijah at the hospital while the other is with Elijah’s brothers, Theodore, 5, and Isaac, under 1, in Oregon. 

Having financial assistance tremendously helps the family support one another and cover the many expenses that are incurred due to these circumstances. This is why they’ve partnered with COTA (Children’s Organ Transplant Association) for assistance with transplant-related expenses. Please honor these brave parents and add to the supportive energy of their extended family and dear friends by donating to COTA for Elijah Strong. Any amount you can spare will allow COTA to help Elijah and his little family get through the day-to-day transplant-related expenses and hopefully alleviate some of their monumental worries as parents who love their child, will certainly go a long way.

Fundraising proceeds will benefit COTA for Elijah Strong to assist with transplant-related expenses. 

Since 1986, COTA has assisted thousands of transplant patients from throughout the country, all of whom required a life-saving organ, bone marrow, cord blood or stem cell transplant.  COTA’s services are provided completely free of charge with 100% of funds generated by COTA community campaigns being used for transplant-related expenses.

For more information, please visit COTA.org.