Vaeda Ellanson Victory for Vaeda

Today was the big day! We had been waiting months to find out we were going to be parents and then 18 long weeks to find out the gender of our precious little bundle. With the words "its a girl" came another phrase we will never forget; "There something wrong with her heart". With a lot of overwhelming emotions and thoughts, we were shuffled into a room full of doctors, genetic counselors, and nurses. Something was wrong with our baby! 


With way too much information coming at us, an amniocentesis, and a pediatric echocardiogram, the longest appointment of our lives was over. The first if many long waits had begun. Our daughter was diagnosed with a complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect or AVSD. She would have open heart surgery within the short start of her life. Our journey of heart parents had begun and our fight started. 


On August 23, we welcomed Vaeda into the world. We were prepared for a stay in the NICU, but she prevailed. She even got to come home with us. We became the proudest parents so in love with our daughter. As all first time parents, we started the terrifying life with a newborn. Lots of tears, calls to the pediatrician and nurses, a few unnecessary trips to the ER... all typical. But we had special reasons to worry. She started showing symptoms of her heart working harder as we celebrated one month together. While she started medication to eliminate extra fluids from her tiny body we started our journey as well. We have begged, pleaded, and prayed for our daughters health and her strength. We have a team of cardiologists and doctors we adore and are getting used to a whole world we never knew exsisted. Our journey has begun.


Vaeda is expected to have surgery around 5 months. She is working hard to grow bigger, stronger and hopefully a little chubby! While this journey is not easy or fearless, She is a fighter. She is Our fighter. She is Our warrior.