In Support of Ellie Cate Gentry
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With hearts overflowing with gratitude and a spirit ignited with hope, we want to share the incredible journey of our precious 18-month-old daughter, Ellie Cate. On November 23, 2024, during a moment of innocent play at her play kitchen, Ellie Cate aspirated a single popcorn kernel. In an instant, our world tilted on its axis. We heard the terrifying sound of her choking and rushed to her side, our desperate attempts to dislodge it proving unsuccessful, even with the aid of a de-choker device. As our sweet girl lost consciousness, instinct and training took over – we began CPR, a skill we had both learned, and called for the urgent assistance of an ambulance.
Twenty agonizing minutes of CPR at home preceded the paramedics' arrival, and another ten minutes passed before their dedicated efforts brought back a fragile pulse. Ellie Cate had suffered a full cardiac arrest, requiring epinephrine directly to her heart and intubation to reignite her precious heartbeat. Once stabilized, our local hospital swiftly transferred her to the expert care of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. There, the compassionate yet stark PICU doctors conducted an MRI, and repeatedly suggested the unimaginable – ending life-sustaining care, believing she would never breathe independently again. Each time, our unwavering love and fierce determination compelled us to say "no." Finally, we had to implore them to cease offering this devastating option. Then, a miracle unfolded. Six days later, our resilient Ellie Cate began to breathe on her own, astonishing everyone.
Her journey continued with a month spent in the nurturing environment of the Nashville hospital, followed by another month at a hospital in Atlanta. For seven long weeks, our little warrior lay in a coma. Then, on January 10, 2025, a beacon of light – her beautiful eyes opened. Though she was still largely unresponsive and spasticity had taken hold, this was a testament to her incredible strength and the power of hope.
Despite the bleak prognoses from every medical professional we encountered, a deep knowing within us, a belief in the miraculous power of God, fueled our resolve. We knew we would fight for our daughter's life, and we prayed for someone else, somewhere, who would join our battle. By what we can only describe as divine intervention, the name of a Functional Neurologist in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Kemp, was brought to our attention. Fortuitously, we had family in Jacksonville who opened their home to us.
Dr. Kemp has been nothing short of a Godsend, a true champion for our daughter. He has gifted us with something invaluable: hope and tangible results, something no other professional could offer. He has poured his tireless dedication into helping our little girl, and as she continues her courageous journey of recovery, we eagerly anticipate the day we can wholeheartedly advocate for the transformative power of Functional Neurology. We are committed to sharing Ellie Cate’s story far and wide, a testament to the fact that real, effective help exists for individuals with brain injuries.
Our hearts are filled with immense gratitude for Dr. Kemp and all of his inspiring colleagues and mentors who are contributing to Ellie Cate’s healing. She still has a significant path ahead, but our hearts are buoyant with the joy of her becoming a big sister in April, a milestone that underscores the vibrant life she has to live – a life as a well and thriving child. We are eternally grateful for the unwavering support and the renewed hope that has been so generously bestowed upon our family.
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- Created May 30, 2025
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