THE KNOLL FAMILY: My Precious Little Niece Ellie Elizabeth Rose Wilson

My sister and her husband had their second child on Thursday June 10, 2010. She was 6 lbs 11 oz and 17in long. Little Ellie was born at IU Medical Center in Indianapolis. When Libby had her ultra sound at 20 weeks they discovered that Ellie was going to be born with Spina Bifida. Libby had Ellie about 21 days early so that she wouldn't go into labor here in LaPorte. After Ellie was born they took her directly over to Riley Children's Hospital where she under went her surgery to close her spine. Ellie had her surgery when she was only about 3 hrs old. The surgery went very good and the doctors were very impressed with how her spine closed up. Ellie is moving all of her limbs including her toes which is VERY VERY good for babies with her condition. She is also making bowel movements on her own and eating without a feeding tube. Ellie however at this time is not able to pee on her own. They are catheterizing her every six hours to get all the urine out. Another thing that can happen with babies who have spina bifida is hydrocephalus (swelling in the brain from spinal fluid) Ellie has developed this and is under going her second surgery as I write this. The doctors will be putting a shunt in her skull with tubing down her spine and into her abdomen to release the fluid. I will update on the surgery as soon as I hear something.

Ellie is surprising all the doctors and nurses with how well she is doing. Libby was initially told she wouldn't be able to hold Ellie for at least two weeks and she was able to hold her when she was about 2 days old. Libby and Tabor are able to feed her as well. She still cannot be on her back because of the surgery so they lay her on a pillow on their laps while tilting her head to feed her. She is very comfortable without any pain medication except for right after her first surgery. She is the toughest little lady in the whole world! Even though all of this may sound like so much it was really better than what they expected. I really truly believe that God is watching over Ellie. We and so many others having been praying for this little girl for months and I believe this is what is getting her, my sister, and her husband through this tough time. She is absolutely the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen!!!!

My sister Kimmy and I took my boys and Libby's little boy Nolan down to Indy to visit over the weekend. I had a really hard time leaving my sister. I love her and that little baby so much and it just kills me that I am here and I can't be there for her while she is going through this tough time.

We are planning another trip down to Indy on Saturday. Ryan is off of work so we are going to leave really early on Saturday morning and go spend some time with Libby, Tabor, and Ellie. We are then going to take our boys and Nolan to the zoo!