When Ellie was born, she was rushed to the NICU due to her inability to breathe as a result of a rare metabolic disorder. She suffered several brain injuries from the lack of oxygen and started experiencing seizures. In that moment, the doctors told Ellie’s parents they would need to say their goodbyes. But after they left the room Ellie miraculously started to stabilize and was able to survive against all odds.

Now 9-years-old, Ellie’s brain is constantly fighting off an urge to seize. She has been put on numerous medications to find the right formula to help Ellie not have a breakthrough seizure. The older she gets, the more aggressive her seizures become. 

“It shouldn’t be this difficult to be a child, or simply to live," Ellie's mom, Nichole, shares. "And as a parent advocate, I understand just how draining it is and emotionally overwhelming it can be… that’s why we take each day as a blessing and just one day at a time because that’s all we can be sure of.” 

Ellie has always loved looking at the stars while camping and she would admire them when she was sitting by the bonfire. She loves how some are big and bright, and others are small and dim. The thing she loves the most is how many stars there are in the sky. And everyone can relate to wishing on a star. 

When Ellie was referred to Make-A-Wish Minnesota, it was easy for her to decide to wish for a trip to Yellowstone to see the stars in all their glory. 

During the day, they explored the many adventures around the park, including seeing Mammoth Springs, Old Faithful, and all the wildlife that call Yellowstone their home. 

“My favorite part was seeing Ellie’s face light up each day," explains Nichole. "She enjoyed any activity or adventure we had planned for the day. Ellie was the first one awake and ready to go every morning!” 

Each evening, Ellie and her family would head back to their campsite and sit around the campfire while eating s’mores. "The wish was a breath of fresh air for the entire family," says Nichole. "Ellie continues to talk about all the fun we had while we were in Yellowstone… With Ellie’s brain damage, I didn’t want her to forget about this amazing experience personally. The fact that she personally stored this in her memories is a huge milestone for her and that’s how I know it meant everything to Ellie."

Since their trip, Ellie and her family have been focusing on seeing any and all moon transitions or northern light activity. They even recently caught a glimpse of the blood moon and are waiting for warmer weather to stargaze around the bonfire. 

Nichole shares her appreciation by saying, “Our wish experience from start to finish was nothing short of amazing… I just want to express complete gratitude to Make-A-Wish Minnesota staff and donors for everything they do to make this possible for families like ours. We are beyond grateful and will cherish this opportunity for a lifetime.”