Ellie McCloskey wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up; the career has been her dream since she was three years old. Her deep curiosity in all living creatures gave her the bravery she needed for a recent visit to the nation’s largest reptile store, the East Bay Vivarium, where the ten-year-old stood face to face with snakes larger than she is.

Ellie’s using that bravery as she awaits another adventure, a heart transplant
at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif. The
Mount Hood resident was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy three years
ago, which causes a muscle imbalance where the heart muscle grows thin, the
left ventricle becomes enlarged and can ultimately lead to heart failure.
“Ellie’s a really happy kid. She brings a smile to everyone’s face she meets,”
said her father, Brandon McCloskey.

Now the local girl with a winning smile is unexpectedly facing an urgent and
high-risk procedure to enable her to continue with her adventures.
When Ellie was diagnosed, her doctors informed her family that she would
need to be monitored for a heart transplant in five to seven years. After a
check-up in June, Ellie’s doctors informed her father that she was in
immediate need of a heart transplant due to an increase in pulmonary
pressure in her lungs.

The doctors gave the family less than two weeks to prepare to go to California
for monitoring and the procedure. Now Brandon and Ellie are staying at the

Ronald McDonald House with Ellie under close medical supervision as they
wait for a suitable donor heart.

The two must now wait for an undetermined period that may stretch for
months or over a year to receive a donor heart that is the appropriate size,
blood type and has a similar enough antibody profile for the procedure.
“It’s been hard for Ellie because she feels okay,” Brandon said.
Although Ellie is in urgent need of a transplant, her day-to-day condition has
remained stable and she is able to maintain some normalcy in her routine.
Ellie is currently on 24-hour IV medication and is responding well enough that
the two can go on outings in the region within four hours of the facility.
Brandon has taken Ellie to explore the Oakland Zoo, and the two have plans
to visit the Monterey Aquarium and Ripley’s Believe-it-or-not museum.
Brandon is also planning to take Ellie trick or treating in Oakland with family
friends so she can dress in her inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex costume.
Although the McCloske’s can find moments of enjoyment, the family is under
financial burden as well as emotional stress due to the magnitude of the
procedure and duration of their stay away from home.

Brandon has had to take a leave of absence from his job in Sandy and must
find a way to maintain his mountain home while caring for his daughter.
Fortunately, members of the community have stepped forward to help the
family.
“The Mountain’s really pulling together for Ellie,” Brandon said.

Mt. Hood Coffee Roasters, the Rhododendron Dairy Queen and Fernie’s Coffee
are among local businesses donating a portion of their funds from certain
events to support the McCloskeys. A GoFundMe account has been established
for community members to help support the family during their hardship. A
page has also been established on Facebook titled: “Ellie’s heart adventure
products” (https://www.facebook.com/groups/767577611217061/?ref=share)
where people can purchase items to support the family. Friends of the family
are assuring the family dogs are cared for and their home is maintained.
Now the McCloskeys are faced with their wait and the uncertainty ahead of
them. Luckily the family recently befriended another family, the Carpenters
from Paradise, Calif., also staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The
Carpenter’s son, Zack, has become a good friend to Ellie. He is recovering
from a heart transplant and is being monitored until it is safe for the family to
return to their home.

“It’s pretty cool to see how well Zack’s doing,” Brandon said.

Donations for the family can be directed to the GoFundMe account at
https://gofund.me/690e9509.