Meet Champion, Ellie

For Ellie, visiting the hospital means seeing her favorite doctors, and playing video games in her dad’s office. Ellie was born with Down syndrome and multiple medical conditions that affect her health and well-being. She has a heart defect that limits her stamina, a thyroid condition managed with regular blood tests and medication, and low muscle tone that contributes to stomach troubles. Her care at Connecticut Children’s spans cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and therapy services, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Her dad runs the hospital’s Family Resource Center and Kids Connect TV Studio, creating spaces where kids like his daughter can relax, play, and feel at ease. Joyful and determined, 13-year-old Ellie loves school, playing baseball, telling jokes and swimming at the beach. Her journey will be ongoing, but she faces it with resilience, support, and a spirit that makes every day a little brighter.