Katie and Scott sat anxiously in the ultrasound room, eager to discover if their daughter, Hannah, was going to have a little brother or sister.
Excitement buzzed through the room as they watched the grainy black-and-white image of their baby flicker on the screen. However, as the ultrasound technician’s expression shifted, so did the mood. What began as a joyous occasion quickly took an unexpected turn. Instead of leaving with the simple answer they had come for, Katie and Scott received the news that would change their lives forever: Their baby boy would be born with limb deficiencies.
In an instant, their world changed. Their son, Eli, would be born without his right arm and left leg. The news came as a shock, one for which neither of them was prepared. But despite the uncertainty ahead, they held onto each other, vowing to face whatever came next with strength and love.
Determined to give their son the best life possible, Katie and Scott wasted no time searching for the best care. When Eli was 4 weeks old, their search led them to Shriners Children’s Greenville. Like many unsure but hopeful parents in their situation, they were filled with fear and skepticism, uncertain of what the future held. However, when they met with the care team, they found something profound. "Shriners Children’s was an unbelievable comfort to us,” Scott recalled. “They said, ‘Just love your baby. This is what we do. We’re here for you, and we’ve got you.’"
The overwhelming sense of uncertainty was replaced by comforting clarity. They suddenly had a direction a place where they knew Eli would be cared for with expertise, compassion, and a determination to help him live a full, joyful life. “We went home understanding that what happened to Eli wasn’t so unique that they didn’t know what to do. No, as they said, 'This is what we do, and we've got you,’” Scott explained.
As Eli grew from infancy to toddlerhood and now to a vibrant 10-year-old, so did his incredible progress and resilience. Eli has undergone five surgeries, each one a vital step on his path to mobility and independence. Alongside these surgeries, Eli has had seven different prosthetic legs, each one custom-made as his needs evolved. However, it was the addition of his running blade – "a game-changer," as Scott describes it – that truly transformed Eli’s world. The new prosthetic allows Eli to run faster, move with more speed and endurance, and achieve the dreams he once thought were out of reach.
