Oconomowoc newborn needs heart transplant; family gets support
An Oconomowoc infant was born with congenital heart disease.
Eleanor Welch will need a heart transplant once she is strong enough for the operation.
Eleanor's family is in need of financial and emotional support during this trying time.
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - It has been a lifetime of surgeries for an Oconomowoc newborn. At just 39 days old, she needs a heart transplant.
What we know
While still in the womb, doctors diagnosed Eleanor Welch with congenital heart disease. She had open-heart surgery at three days old. A machine now pumps blood through her tiny body.
"She lost some of the blood flow to her heart muscle – basically the doctors got together and said there's no repairing it," said Tyler Welch, Eleanor's father.
"She's a spunky one. She will tell the nurses if she likes what they are doing or not," said Laura Welch.
Why you should care
Eleanor needs a heart transplant.
"That's like the first thing that pops into your head," Laura said.
"A miracle for us is someone else's worst nightmare," Tyler said.
"It's a very difficult mental space to be in," said Dr. Alexander Raskin, the pediatric cardiologist at Children's Wisconsin overseeing Eleanor's care. "This is pretty rare. Eleanor's specific heart disease makes up less than 1% of congenital heart disease," Dr. Raskin said.
Dig deeper
While Eleanor lies in the intensive care unit with her chest open, the community has opened its heart to help the Welch's give other children.
"There's a meal train three times a week – meals being dropped off at house. Sisters are picking up for school for us," Laura said.
The group calls themselves Eleanor's Army – leaning on their father and each other.
What you can do
More than anything, the Welchs hope Eleanor's first few days remind everyone about the importance of organ donation. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers information about organ and tissue donation.
"If Eleanor couldn't make it through this – if she was able to give a kidney or one of her other organs – I would feel so blessed to give that opportunity to someone else," Tyler said.
If you would like to be a part of Eleanor's Army, a GoFundMe account has been set up.
What's next
Eleanor is not strong enough to be on the transplant list. When she is, it could still be months before she gets a new heart. Size, blood type and availability all need to line up.
The Source
The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News with assistance from Children's Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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