Meet Ellie!

Ellie is a spunky toddler living life in Point Clark with her family, including parents Steven and Kayla, and her beloved dog. She is curious and determined, and wants everyone to know that nothing is going to hold her back in life.

Like most toddlers, she loves playing outside and being on the go. Going to the park to play on slides and swings is her favourite.

Unlike most toddlers you may meet, Ellie was born with a serious heart defect. Before she could come home from the hospital, she underwent a big surgery to help her heart grow healthy and strong. As a result, Ellie sports a scar on her chest that shows how tough she is.

Ellie was also born with a cleft palate. Although it has recently been repaired and she's learning to eat more table foods, she still relies on her G-Tube for nutrients. 

When you meet Ellie, you may notice that her adorable face is a bit asymmetrical which is a result of hemifacial microsomia. She also has microtia, a smaller, differently formed ear. Because of this, Ellie wears a hearing device on a headband. Her family is learning sign language (ASL) and different ways to communicate with her.

Ellie and her family have worked hard to meet milestones and has come so far in the last 18 months. Despite Ellie’s differences, she and her family hope that everyone sees her as just a typical toddler, that her peers accept her for who she is, and that she is treated like one of the gang. Ellie's family and friends expect she’ll be fully included when she starts school, and they know she’ll bring so much to her community.

It’s okay to be curious, so if your children see Ellie out and about, her parents welcome you to say hi and ask respectful questions.

Please talk to your kids about Ellie and remind them that we’re really all more alike than different!