"Elijah doesn't see himself as sick," his mom says. "He sees himself as a normal kid. And that's exactly what his Aveanna team allows him to be."
Four-year-old Elijah has hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He spent the first five months of his life in the PICU and has endured countless treatments, procedures, and surgeries since. He is also the silliest, sweetest, and happiest kid you'll ever meet. His mom says her goal is to give Elijah as much joy and normalcy as he can possibly have. The united effort of Elijah's Aveanna Healthcare Medical Solutions (AHMS) and Pediatric Day Health Care (PDHC) center teams help make his active, joyful life possible!
"Elijah needs a variety of supplies, medications, and treatments," his mom notes. "But at the center, he can just be a regular kid who learns and plays outside and eats lunch with his friends. It gives him confidence to know he isn't the only one with medical conditions."
Thanks to the expert care at their local Aveanna PDHC center, Elijah can have fun all day in a safe environment. His parents don't have to worry about his care. Instead, Elijah's mom and dad look forward to hearing about his day when he gets off the bus.
"It's one of our favorite parts of the day!" Elijah's mom shares. "We're so proud to hear about all he's done and learned at the center. I trust them completely with his care. From the bus driver to the center director and all the caregivers and clinicians in between, we're so thankful for them all!"
In addition to the center staff, the local AHMS team also supports Elijah. "Our local rep is Katie. I love Katie!" Elijah's mom says. "She works wonders and is always there when we need her. I have her call number if I ever need anything."
Elijah's enteral nutrition supplies are an essential part of his care, keeping him healthy and nourished so that he can keep up with his friends at the center and his five siblings. He wears his feeding pump everywhere in his backpack. He is proud to tell anyone who asks that it's not just his backpack, it's his tube feed!
"Raising medically complex kids is no joke," Elijah's mom admits. "From making sure he has the equipment and feeding and oxygen supplies he needs to ensuring anyone who cares for him knows how to keep him safe. It's a lot. But we don't have to be stressed – we just have to be prepared. We can give our kids all the joy and experiences possible as long as we have the right plan and supports in place."
Supporting our patients and their families is an honor we never take for granted here at Aveanna. Our service lines work together as one united team to provide the best care possible and help families like Elijah's thrive. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey, Elijah!