By Ella’s grandfather, Mike Kersten

When Ella was born in August 2020, she brought an enormous sense of joy to our family. At the time, my late wife Felicity was battling advanced breast cancer, and Ella’s arrival became a light in an incredibly difficult period. Even now, Ella points to photos of her Grammy, forming a connection in her own way.

It didn’t take long to sense something wasn’t quite right. Ella was unusually quiet, and at the same time, her mum Sophia, a registered nurse, was grappling with her own concerns. At just 10 days old, Ella was taken to Bathurst Hospital with severe breathing difficulties and a dangerously high heart rate. What followed was the beginning of a complex medical journey that would take the family between Bathurst, Orange, and Sydney, including extended time at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. 

Ella in hospital with Mike by her side

Ella was diagnosed with a number of serious airway conditions and required immediate, ongoing care. At three months old, she was airlifted to Sydney and underwent her first airway surgery.

Over the months that followed, her care became an ongoing cycle of treatment, growth and further intervention. At six months old, she underwent a full airway reconstruction, a procedure that not only stabilised her condition, but gave her something she had never had before, her voice. 

For the first time, Ella could be heard.

That moment brought a sense of normality, but it did not last. Ongoing complications meant further surgeries and continued hospital care. To date, Ella has undergone more than 20 operations. Despite everything, she remains a happy, engaged, and energetic little girl. 

There is no doubt that Ella is only alive today because of the quality of the medical care she has received. The skill of clinicians, combined with access to specialised equipment, has been critical at every stage. These are essential tools that allow doctors and nurses to monitor, stabilise and treat children in their most vulnerable moments.

Ella receiving care in hospital 

We are also incredibly grateful that Sophia chose a career as a Registered Nurse. I can’t imagine how anyone could navigate such complex and emotional challenges with the calm, clarity, and strength she has shown, especially in those early days, without the training her profession has given her.

Living in regional New South Wales adds another layer of complexity. The travel, the time away from home, and the constant movement between hospitals all become part of the experience. Throughout it all, the care from hospital teams has been extraordinary. Organisations like the Humpty Dumpty Foundation play an important role in supporting that care, helping ensure hospitals have the equipment clinicians rely on every day.

What stands out most, though, is who Ella is today. At five and a half, she is confident, curious, and full of life. She loves art, swimming and playing with her friends, approaching everything with an energy that is impossible not to be lifted by.

Ella is smiling today, a joyful and happy little girl 

Some of my favourite moments with Ella are the simplest ones. Swimming together or watching her fly a kite for the first time, completely absorbed in the joy of it. Her journey is not over, and there is still uncertainty ahead. But Ella has already shown a resilience that is hard to put into words.

She has taught all of us what it means to keep going.