Photo BY PAULA MULLER
Brady’s grandmother, Nancy Gorman, and Brady’s great-grandfather, Henry Gorman, pose with a family photo of Brady and his parents, Bob and Christine Ellis, during the fundraiser for Brady Robert Ellis at the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall in Lynn on Friday.
By JACQLYN CULWELL
FOR THE ITEM
LYNN — Life can be full of unexpected and often discouraging twists and turns, and Bob and Christine Ellis certainly couldn’t have seen what was going to happen to them, and their baby son Brady, last Nov. 17.
The day started the way all others did for 4-month-old Brady: a little play time, followed by feeding time with his grandfather. Then it all changed. He was found unresponsive on his playmat, and was rushed first to the Salem Hospital’s emergency room, and then to the Massachusetts General Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
He had slipped into cardiac arrest, and was left with brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Though numerous in-depth tests followed, the family has been left with no explanation for the incident. Doctors, according to friends, have described the baby’s episode as “near-SIDS” (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). But one thing is certain. Brady’s life, and those of family and friends around him, changed radically that day.
Emily and Michael Cross, friends of the Ellises, helped to organize a fundraiser that took place at the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall last Friday night. With banners made by Andreas Grawe, donations of food, a live band, raffles, and lots of love and encouragement from friends and family, it became a night full of hope for the now six-month-old Brady and his parents, former Lynners who now live in Peabody.
“This is our first event for Brady,” said Emily Cross. “My husband and I are members here, so it worked out well. The amount of support is truly amazing.”
“We have a lot of food donations from places around the area. Spinelli’s, Coach Pete’s, Periwinkles, Tides, Fauci Pizza … the list goes on. It’s a little overwhelming, but really heartwarming,” she said.
Liz Snider, Christine’s sister, said that after three weeks of intensive care at Mass. General, Brady was transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. There, Brady receives the care he needs daily to survive.
“The staff at Spaulding are training Bob and Christine to take care of Brady,” Snider said. “He has a (tracheotomy) to help him breathe, and a (gastrostomy) tube that feeds him. He receives an hour of physical, occupational, and speech therapy daily.
“He’s getting the best care possible,” Snider said.
Bob Ellis’ sister, Lauren Naugle, says the entire family is having a tough time coming to grips with what happened.
“It’s especially hard when the entire family is affected as a whole and collectively sharing the heartache and worry,” she said. “Before all of this, Brady was such a good baby. He always smiled, and was just so happy and content.
“Now,” she said, “he’s just a different Brady. He has shown us the true importance of family, faith and love and most importantly, standing together. My hope for Brady, just as I’m sure it is for all of us here, is that he continues to get better, get stronger and keep fighting.”
Ellis’ younger brother, Anthony Votano, said that even though Brady’s condition is unpredictable, and extremely worrisome, family is the backbone in times of trouble.
“We have to stand together through this as a family unit, pray and believe that he will be able to get through this,” Votano said. “We’re all staying strong for Brady. We have to.”
