Irish tot undergoes life changing surgery in Boston

One-year-old twin treated for rare disorder while in induced coma

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MOLLY MULDOON,

Irish Voice Reporter

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Elie and her twin sister Emie pictured in Boston Children’s Hospital before Elie’s first surgery

Photo by Madden Family

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Irish toddler Elie Madden is to undergo her second surgery in Boston on Wednesday, as part of her life changing treatment.

“She has been in an induced coma since December 2,” her mother Esti, told the Irish Voice.

“She is doing very, very well. The care here is just outstanding.”

The one-year-old twin suffers from a rare condition known as severe posterior tracheomalacia and long gap esophageal atresia.

Doctors first detected the problem during Esti’s pregnancy. Elie’s twin sister Emie was born in good health.

Due to a five centimeter gap between her esophagus and her stomach, Elie is unable to eat, drink or swallow without the help of medical equipment. She also underwent a number of surgeries in Ireland for a heart condition.

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She was flown from Dublin by Air Corps in the Irish government jet to Boston for treatment in late November.

Elie, along with her mother and sister, traveled to Boston Children’s Hospital for the specialized surgery. Father, Eddie Madden remains at home in Dublin to tie down his job.

Before departure Elie was being treated at home in Santry, Dublin, with 16-hour daily medical support.

As part of Elie’s treatment, doctors in Boston are using the revolutionary Foker Technique which will allow her esophagus to grow. As a result doctors predict Elie will remain in an induced coma for at least three months.

“Depending on what they find they may connect her esophagus or reattached the sutures,” Esti told the Irish Voice from Boston on Tuesday morning.

En route to the hospital to see her daughter, Esti, who is originally from Poland, was preparing for the 12-hour surgery on Wednesday.

“She is in the best place she could ever be,” she reflected, saying doctors are happy with Elie’s progress so far.

 “The hardest part is that she is here, but that she is not really here,” Esti admitted, speaking about watching her young daughter lie in a coma.

“It feels like she is away, like she is sleeping all the time.

“It’s a waiting game.”

Back in Dublin, Eddie Madden is preparing to travel to Boston to spend Christmas with his family.
“I am missing my babies. I see them on Skype but it is not easy,” he told the Irish Voice.

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