A miracle baby named Ellieana “Ellie” Jewel Peyton was born on March 4th at Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Baby Ellie passed away yesterday due to injuries sustained after a nurse forgot that she had the cords attached to the baby inside of her pocket. While the nurse walked away, she accidentally dragged the baby out of her crib in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This caused a skull fracture and a brain bleed, and unfortunately, the death of the baby.

Mackenzie Peyton (on Facebook) has publicly shared the miraculous story of her 6 lb baby girl who was born on March 4th with a heart defect. This story is heartbreaking and I have worked on a timeline of Ellie’s short life so it is comprehensive and understandable. Her mother and her were so brave in the face of adversity. Ellie’s life will not be forgotten. Our thoughts are with Ellie’s parents, and all of Ellie’s family.
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Timeline-
Before being born, doctors informed Mackenzie that her baby would have to have a heart transplant when she was born. Mackenzie learned this early in her second trimester. Miraculously, Ellie was born with very little issues to the left side of her heart and no issues on the right side of her heart. Mackenzie was absolutely overjoyed.

March 4th- Ellie is born! Mackenzie posted about how much she loved her miracle baby. She was so pleased her heart was so much better than expected at birth! It is very clear Mackenzie is head over heels in love with her new baby girl, her first baby ever. Mackenzie and her fiance Tyler Peyton welcomed their baby girl on their one year anniversary.

March 7th- Mackenzie posted and updated everyone that Ellie was doing great and on medication for her heart.

March 8th- The picture below of Ellie with the teddy bear is from March 8th. Mackenzie shared on Facebook that she is excited to bring her baby home.

Match 11th- Mackenzie shared that baby Ellie had an MRI and it showed that the right side of her heart had healed and the left side had some issues. Ellie was due to get surgery the next day to put a catheter in.

March 12th- Baby Ellie has a successful surgery! Mackenzie excitedly posted that her daughter’s surgery went “AMAZING”. The doctors said that the baby’s heart looked a lot better than they thought it would. Mackenzie expressed that she was crying happy tears because her daughter shouldn’t need any more procedures.

March 14th- Mackenzie excitedly posted, “I’m so happy. My baby’s coming home. ”

March 18th- Mackenzie updated saying that they haven’t gotten to take Ellie home but they were close to being able to take her home. Ellie was not taking the whole bottle but as soon as she could, they were removing the feeding tube. Mackenzie writes about planning a huge welcome party/baby shower for baby Ellie.

March 19th- Mackenzie updated that Ellie was sleeping during feeding times and she asked fellow moms for any tips on how to help Ellie take the bottle better. Many mothers commented that it was common and gave Mackenzie helpful tips. Mackenzie thanked them.

March 25th- Mackenzie posted a picture of baby Ellie three weeks old pointing out that she is bright-eyed and wide awake! (This is the second picture)

She excitedly announced, “We come home Friday! ” McKenzie along with her friends and family were ecstatic!

March 26th- Just one day after announcing they were bringing their happy and healthy baby home, Mackenzie received a phone call that would be a nightmare for any parent. “The hospital nurse put the cords hooked to my daughter in her pocket and forgot she had the cords in her pocket and dragged my daughter out of bed when she walked away,” Mackenzie heartbreakingly posted.

McKenzie had only left for 1 hour that day so her and Tyler (Ellie’s dad) could take showers. This life-ending accident happened in that one hour. It is clear that Mackenzie was completely heartbroken and angry. She shared that after the x-rays were done she learned her baby had a fractured skull and a brain bleed. Mackenzie understandably stated, “I’m losing my sh**.”

March 26th (still)- Mackenzie posted that her miracle baby had already beaten so many odds with only a 20% chance of life at birth that she was devastated such a careless action from a nurse would fracture her daughter’s skull and cause a brain bleed. She was devastated that they were not coming home Friday.

She shared, “My heart is shattered, I’m hurt. I’m angry.”

Mackenzie also commented that the hospital would not tell her the nurse’s name and there is no update if she has learned the nurse’s name. She did share that the nurse was fired.

The third picture of baby Ellie being held with an orange Carhartt sweater in the background shows the swelling she suffered after the accident. The fourth picture shows the size her head was prior to the fall.

March 27th- On the day that should have been the eve before Ellie would have been going home (before the accident), Mackenzie updated her friends and family stating that Ellie’s ultrasound on her heart showed the condition was worsening. The friends and family seemed shocked and believe that the accident and subsequent brain bleed were playing a part of her worsening condition.

March 28th- Friday, the day that baby Ellie should have been home, Ellie suddenly stops breathing and her heart stops. “As soon as the nurse handed her to me, she smiled at me and then stopped breathing,” a heartbroken Mackenzie wrote. The doctors stated they were going to do scans to see if this was due to the brain bleed.

Baby Ellie goes on life support. Again, this is the day she would have been home.

March 29- Mackenzie shared that friends and family needed to come and see Ellie. She stated that her organs were working but her heart was not working. Baby Ellie began to have seizures from the brain bleed. The brain bleed caused by the fall is much worse.

23 hours ago- Mackenzie announced that baby Ellie has passed away. She expresses how life wasn’t fair for her miracle baby and how much she loves her baby girl. The fifth picture is of baby Ellie before passing. The sixth picture is of baby Ellie smiling.

“I am torn apart,” McKenzie shared.

This is such a tragic story and such a needless loss of life. Mackenzie, Tyler, precious Ellieana, and all of their family and friends will be in our thoughts and prayers.

I am also sure the nurse feels bad for what happened.

We will update this story. I had a son that received successful heart surgery as a child and I cannot imagine this happening.

It was heartbreaking to watch a mother go from absolute Joy with her miracle baby to complete and utter heartbreak.