To learn more about Ella, go to www.cotaforellah.com.
To learn more about Ella's disease, check out www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/nephrology.
She came to Chicago because her kidneys were failing ... too rapidly for a transplant. So doctors removed them before a donated kidney was available. The groundbreaking surgery and the little girl who defied the odds.
Her laugh is infectious. Sadly so, too, was the rate of decline when Ella's parents realized her kidneys were breaking down. Multiple medications including chemotherapy weren't enough to keep hope alive.
Everett Hafenrichter, Ella's Dad: "She didn't respond to that and her kidney function began to decline."
What's worse Ella developed another complication. She was leaking protein in her urine.
Dr. Riccardo Superina, Children's Memorial Hospital, Pediatric Transplant Surgeon: "Protein can only be replaced at a certain rate by the liver and by the amount of food you eat and so she was becoming nutritionally depleted."
If she had any chance of getting a new kidney ... the old ones would have to come out first to give Ella a chance to get strong enough for surgery. Her doctors at Children's Memorial Hospital made the call.
Dr. Superina: "So Ella is without kidneys, getting dialyzed, waiting for a kidney."
Michelle Hafenrichter, Ella's Mom: "It is overwhelming sometimes to think that she doesn't have kidneys."
As Ella underwent dialysis, family members and friends went through rigorous testing to find a match. No luck. The wait was agonizing.
Dr. Superina: "The kidneys, obviously if you take them out, that's pretty final."
But not the final chapter for this brave little girl.
Michelle Hafenrichter: "We got the call there was a kidney available on March 25. We felt really nervous getting ready to go, but we were so excited to go and Ella was unbelieveable excited. She was cheering and clapping and saying 'When I get my new kidney I can eat and I can drink.' She was just thrilled."
Ella: "Look how high I'm going now!"
Things certainly are looking up now.
Michelle Hafenrichter: "When you look at a child like Ella and you can see the chances she's been given and how healthy she is now. It's a miracle, it's a gift and we are eternally grateful."
It's a delicate balance managing medication so Ella won't reject her new organ. But after a bit of a rough start, she's come leaps and bounds.
Ella: "I'm going to jump off, mommy."
To learn more about Ella's disease, check out www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/nephrology.
She came to Chicago because her kidneys were failing ... too rapidly for a transplant. So doctors removed them before a donated kidney was available. The groundbreaking surgery and the little girl who defied the odds.
Her laugh is infectious. Sadly so, too, was the rate of decline when Ella's parents realized her kidneys were breaking down. Multiple medications including chemotherapy weren't enough to keep hope alive.
Everett Hafenrichter, Ella's Dad: "She didn't respond to that and her kidney function began to decline."
What's worse Ella developed another complication. She was leaking protein in her urine.
Dr. Riccardo Superina, Children's Memorial Hospital, Pediatric Transplant Surgeon: "Protein can only be replaced at a certain rate by the liver and by the amount of food you eat and so she was becoming nutritionally depleted."
If she had any chance of getting a new kidney ... the old ones would have to come out first to give Ella a chance to get strong enough for surgery. Her doctors at Children's Memorial Hospital made the call.
Dr. Superina: "So Ella is without kidneys, getting dialyzed, waiting for a kidney."
Michelle Hafenrichter, Ella's Mom: "It is overwhelming sometimes to think that she doesn't have kidneys."
As Ella underwent dialysis, family members and friends went through rigorous testing to find a match. No luck. The wait was agonizing.
Dr. Superina: "The kidneys, obviously if you take them out, that's pretty final."
But not the final chapter for this brave little girl.
Michelle Hafenrichter: "We got the call there was a kidney available on March 25. We felt really nervous getting ready to go, but we were so excited to go and Ella was unbelieveable excited. She was cheering and clapping and saying 'When I get my new kidney I can eat and I can drink.' She was just thrilled."
Ella: "Look how high I'm going now!"
Things certainly are looking up now.
Michelle Hafenrichter: "When you look at a child like Ella and you can see the chances she's been given and how healthy she is now. It's a miracle, it's a gift and we are eternally grateful."
It's a delicate balance managing medication so Ella won't reject her new organ. But after a bit of a rough start, she's come leaps and bounds.
Ella: "I'm going to jump off, mommy."
