Meet Elijah
Elijah loves soccer, parks and swimming! Born with multiple heart defects, Elijah was immediately transferred to the Stollery from the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.
Despite having three open-heart surgeries by the age of three and suffering two cardiac arrests, a stroke and being on life support with slim chances of survival, Elijah defied the odds and continues to radiate joy, hope and is the definition of resilience.
Elijah was born with multiple heart defects and was immediately transferred to the Stollery Children’s Hospital’s pediatric cardiac intensive care unit from Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. Elijah then had his first open-heart surgery at just two weeks old. Â
At eight weeks old, he experienced a life-threatening heart aneurysm and was airlifted from Calgary to the Stollery for an emergency open-heart surgery that led to two cardiac arrests, two days on ECMO life support and a stroke. Elijah eventually made it back home. Â
At two years old he received his third open-heart surgery and most recently he had heart catheterization. His family is grateful to have the hub for pediatric cardiac care a short drive away as he is a bright, gifted boy with lots of energy!Â
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