Elizabeth's Journey Home

Elizabeth Elaine Bump was born on April 3rd, 2024. She was born with Down Syndrome also know as Trisomy 21. This is a chromosome 21 disorder. Elizabeth will utilize therapy services via ChildServe and AEA in the future. Organizations and services continue to be explored.

Elizabeth has been in the NICU since she was born and has a long stay ahead of her. Her mom spends most days & nights with her, while dad cares for their 3 other boys at home, but is able to visit his little lady often!

Elizabeth’s diagnosis includes Pulmonary Hypertension where the vessels in her lungs are constricted and need oxygen to stabilize her breathing. She continues to work on relaxing her lungs to come off the oxygen altogether.

She also has a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) which is a hole in her heart or a murmur. This was discovered on day 2 of life. Elizabeth will have surgery at age 3-6 months to repair up to 6 areas in her heart; with the focus on the middle of her heart. It’s possible some areas could resolve themselves before the surgery but at least two areas will need to be repaired. She is currently on two medications; one to prevent the retention of fluids causing her lungs to become too wet and the second to help her heart pump better so she has more stamina to eat.

Eating is something Elizabeth works on daily. She currently nurses when strong enough and the rest is supplemented through a nasal gastrointestinal tube. The goal is to have her eat on her own so not to have a Gastrointestinal tube (G tube) placed.

Elizabeth has a wonderful team of nurses, doctors, and specialists. She sees neonatologists daily as well as cardiologists, an occupational therapist, speech pathologist, social worker, and groups affiliated with her diagnosis.

Elizabeth is prayed for daily that she will come home to mom, dad, and her three brothers.

This takes a toll emotionally & financially on a family. Medical bills, travel, food on the go, extra child care all play into their situation. If you are able to donate, you can help relieve some of the financial stress so they can focus on getting sweet Elizabeth better and getting her home to her family.