By writer to fortmyers.floridaweekly.com
Above: Ella Palinchak paints the official baby artwork for the 2022 SWFL Wine & Meals Fest to profit pediatric well being care in our area.
SWFL Kids’s Charities’ 2022 Baby Artist, Ella Palinchak was born blissful and wholesome together with her twin sister. At four months previous, nonetheless, Ella was recognized with Alagille Syndrome, a fancy multisystem uncommon genetic illness that impacts the liver, mind, coronary heart, eyes, face and skeleton. With profitable medical interventions, youngsters with Alagille Syndrome can reside a full life, however some don’t survive.
Ella and her mother and father, Kris and JoAnna Palinchak, traveled out of the world to see many medical doctors together with a neurologist and nephrologist. Kris and JoAnna grew to become fast advocates and consultants as a result of most specialists had but to listen to of the illness that stricken their daughter.
Ella’s failing liver was the primary impediment. The household wanted greater than only a liver transplant match, in addition they needed to get approval from a number of specialists confirming that Ella was secure sufficient to obtain this lifesaving organ donation. Whereas she was in a Miami hospital and Golisano’s Kids’s Hospital of SWFL in Fort Myers for six months ready for information, each mother and father took turns staying within the Miami hospital with Ella and staying house with Lacy, Ella’s twin.
Proper: Artist Rachel Pierce assists Ella within the official portray for this 12 months’s occasion themed “25 Million Causes to Sip Sip Hooray!”
Ella was placed on the liver transplant record simply at some point earlier than her first birthday; it was 18 months earlier than the household acquired the cellphone name that the Miami hospital had discovered a match. Ella had a profitable liver transplant on the age of two and is anticipated to reside a full life because of medication and common appointments with cardiology, ophthalmology and transplant specialists.
“She continues to amaze us together with her unwavering, nice spirit,” her mom stated.
The Palinchaks have a lot hope for Ella and others struggling with Allagile Syndrome.
Sooner or later they hope to attach with Ella’s donor household.
“We’re eternally grateful of their selfless act throughout their time of ache,” Ms. Palinchak stated.
As SWFL Kids’s Charities’ 2022 Baby Artist, Ella created an authentic piece of artwork with assist from artist Rachel Pierce, a former NBC-2 anchor. The portray will likely be featured throughout the 2022 SWFL Wine & Meals Fest, the place bidders can elevate their paddles in assist of Ella and her art work. Bids for the art work will begin at $5,000. Historically, the works are donated again to the hospital, the place they’re displayed for sufferers, households, guests and employees to take pleasure in.
Ella Palinchak exhibits her energy whereas carrying her bravery beads that symbolize all the main medical procedures she’s endured. REAGAN RULE / COURTESY PHOTOS
Celebrating its 14th 12 months, the SWFL Wine & Meals Fest takes place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21-22. Chef vintner dinners are held Friday at personal houses all through the world; the Grand Tasting and Public sale happen Saturday afternoon within the gardens at Florida SouthWestern State Faculty.
SWFL Kids’s Charities Inc. is devoted to supporting the area’s rising pediatric well being care system. The annual SWFL Wine & Meals Fest is its signature fundraiser. For extra info, go to www.swflwinefest.org. ¦
