Ella faced the battle of a lifetime when she was just 7 months old. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare congenital heart defect that affects only 1 in 300,000 babies. Devastatingly, 90% of babies don’t survive without treatment.
It took six visits to different doctors before Ella finally got diagnosed at another hospital. Seeing how severe her condition was, doctors there told her parents to get her to Boston Children’s Hospital right away.
Little Ella had only 24 hours to live.
The race to save Ella’s life
Her fight continued: 10 hours of open-heart surgery. Three weeks in a medically induced coma. Eight weeks at Boston Children’s in all.
Ella’s story is a powerful testament to courage, resilience and the life-saving power of modern medicine.
Brianna, Ella’s mom
Thanks to the extraordinary care of her nurses, doctors, and surgeon, Ella made a remarkable recovery. And her family was relieved their little warrior was coming home.
Ella’s Army at the Walk for Boston Children’s Hospital
Family and friends join forces
So incredibly grateful and determined to give back, Ella’s family enlisted friends to form a team for the 2023 Eversource Walk for Boston Children’s Hospital. Their name? Ella’s Army. Their goal? Raise a life-changing amount of money.
Ella and her mom at the Walk in 2023
Through a combination of social media posts and personal outreach to their networks, Ella’s Army raised an astonishing $30,000. In 2024, the Walk team raised another $23,500. And in 2025, they raised $62,300 through a cornhole fundraising event and the Walk. In just three years, Ella’s Army’s support totaled a formidable $115,500.
Paying it forward
Ella’s recent school photo
Every dollar helps kids like Ella conquer devastating disease. Because she was able to get the right treatment at the right time, Ella is now a vibrant and joyful 2 year old. Amazingly, her heart now functions normally—and that means she can give more love to her big brother and new little sister. Today, she’s taking on a new challenge, ballet.
