Eliel

Eliel was just a year and a half old when he caught several common cold viruses. At first, it seemed like nothing more than an ear infection. But over the next few days, the viruses affected his heart, causing a serious condition called myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). 

By the time Eliel got to the hospital, his heart was struggling to pump blood effectively and he was having abnormal heart rhythms. Fluid began to build up in his lungs, so Eliel needed a breathing tube and ventilator to help him breathe. But that was not enough. His heart had become so weak that his other organs were beginning to shut down. 

Fortunately, Eliel was at IWK Health, where he could receive the highly specialized and life-saving care he needed. His medical team placed him on ECMO—a form of life support that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs. The ECMO machine would keep Eliel alive while giving his heart time to rest and recover. 

“As parents, we [Brenda and Eddie] felt helpless. The only thing we could do was hold on to hope,” reflected Brenda on seeing her youngest child so critically ill. 

For four days, ECMO supported Eliel while his heart began to recover. ECMO can be lifesaving, but it also carries significant risks. Sadly, Eliel experienced one of those complications: bleeding in his brain. 

Over time, however, Eliel continued to improve. He was able to come off ECMO and begin rehabilitation to rebuild his strength and help him move again. Eventually, he no longer needed the ventilator, and his medications were gradually reduced. 

After a month in the IWK Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, followed by more time recovering on the cardiac floor, Eliel was finally able to go home with his parents and his two older sisters, Ava Roe and Elise. 

Eliel turned two in October 2026. Today, he is a healthy little boy who loves to dance and sing with his sisters. 

For Brenda and Eddie, sharing their son’s IWK journey—and the role ECMO played in saving his life—is deeply important. “ECMO gave my little boy a second chance at life,” says Brenda. “And this journey showed me just how important the IWK is to our region.”