Baby In Wauwatosa Hospital Needs Life-Saving Heart Surgery

WAUWATOSA, WI—Elsie Steinbach's personality shows in a photo her mother, Alexa Steinbach, shared with Patch. The 3-month-old baby girl's chubby cheeks and bright eyes draw a person in — so you may not notice the medical tubes taped to her small face.

Elsie's "sometimes spicy attitude has made her a favorite of all the doctor and nurse friends she has made here at Children's Wisconsin hospital," according to the GoFundMe page set up for her.

That's because the baby is fighting for her life.

Elsie was diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome, also called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that can result in a heart defect. The baby was born without a pulmonary artery and has been at Children's Wisconsin hospital since her birth in December.

Elsie's parents, Tim and Alexa Steinbach, spend their days helping others as first responders. Tim Steinbach is a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy, and Alexa is a firefighter and paramedic with the City of Watertown and a paid on-call member of the City of Jefferson's fire and emergency medical service department, according to the GoFundMe page.

The family seeks help and prayers for its little heart warrior, who has a long battle ahead. "The cost of medical care is being addressed; however, the uninsured costs that lie ahead for her parents with the transfer of Elsie’s care to Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, California, are not," the GoFundMe post said.

So far the GoFundMe has raised more than $33,700 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Extra Special Baby

The Steinbachs said their "extra special parenting adventure" started at Alexa's 20-week anatomy scan. That is when the parents first learned of their baby's congenital heart defect, according to the GoFundMe post.

After many echocardiogram and ultrasound tests, Elsie was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with basal septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

Elsie was born on Dec. 14 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons would be available if Elsie required immediate intervention.

The plan was to give Elsie the chance to grow for a few months before her first open heart surgery, the post said.

Elsie is facing complications from the such as tracheobronchomalacia, which has left Elsie with a tracheostomy and dependent on a ventilator to breathe; hypoparathyroidism; hypocalcemia; and seizures, the post said.

Elsie will have her first open-heart surgery in California on April 13. She is going to Stanford University and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

Elsie’s particular heart defect is very rare and challenging to fix on its own. Her parents are aware she might need additional open-heart surgeries to fix her heart, the post said.

"Our perfect little girl has a very long road ahead of her. Her complex medical issues are going to need lifelong care. Tim and I are filled with gratitude for the support the three of us have already received from family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

"Although we are still in the trenches and find it hard to see God’s goodness on the especially hard days, the acts of kindness and generosity that have been extended to us remind us of His love. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much," the parents said in the GoFundMe post.

Patch requested an interview with Elsie's parents, who are unavailable until later this week. The story will be updated once Patch speaks with them.

Editor's Note: GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.