"Enfant Soleil is you. It’s me. It’s all of us. Not everyone knows a child living with a serious illness. But we all know a child who has needed a helping hand. A child who has visited the emergency room, needed breathing support, undergone tests or benefited from equipment funded by Enfant Soleil." — Chloé, Élixe’s mother
Against all odds
I gave birth in just a few minutes. Everything was wonderful.
This is how Chloé describes the birth of her third child. It was a quick delivery without complications. Élixe came into the world peacefully, surrounded by love.
The first cuddles and precious moments followed, but something was not right. Every feeding ended the same way. Élixe couldn't keep his milk down. Nothing alarming at first, but just enough for joy to give way to concern. Chloé doesn’t know it yet, but her son's life is about to take an unexpected turn.
The care team repeatedly tries to clear his airways, but nothing works. The worry grows for Chloé and her partner, Mathieu. A nurse recognizes signs she has seen before, so she asks for a pediatrician's opinion and orders an X-ray.
Then another clue emerges. The tube inserted into Élixe's esophagus curves into a J-shape instead of continuing toward his stomach.
The diagnosis becomes increasingly clear. His esophagus is blocked and food has nowhere to go. For his parents, a knot forms in their stomachs.
An emergency transfer
Élixe is rushed to Hôpital Fleurimont du CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS in Sherbrooke. There, doctors confirm the diagnosis: esophageal atresia. He needs surgery, immediately.
As the family tries to process the news, they receive another blow. Chloé tests positive for COVID-19, meaning she can’t stay with her baby. Terrified at the thought of her son entering surgery alone, Chloé asks Mathieu to stay with him.
A few hours later, Mathieu also tests positive. Now, neither parent can stay with their newborn son. The helplessness is overwhelming.
Their baby is in the hospital two hours from home, and they can’t hold him.
"I thought I was going to lose my mind, alone at home without my baby. I knew he was receiving excellent care in Sherbrooke, but all I wanted was to be there and hold him in my arms" Chloé recalls.
Fortunately, surgery takes place quickly and doctors successfully repair the anomaly. Unable to visit in person, Chloé calls the hospital twice a day for updates. Luckily, the medical team understands her anguish.
Moved by the family's situation, the surgeon took time between procedures to rock Élixe in his arms. It was a simple gesture, but one that his parents will never forget.
To allow his body to heal, Élixe is fed through a tube after the surgery. He remains in the hospital for about ten days before he is finally able to go home. Chloé and Mathieu feel relieved as they bring their little boy back where he belongs.
A little farmer at heart
At home, Élixe finally meets his big brother and sister. Specialized follow-ups are arranged with the family doctor and Sherbrooke's esophageal atresia clinic. Slowly, the appointments become less frequent. Life finds its rhythm again.
Today, Élixe remembers little of those first difficult days. Only a small scar remains. A quiet reminder of everything he overcame before he was even old enough to remember. Now he is a curious little boy with an infectious laugh and an endless desire to explore.
A farmer at heart, he loves following his father around the farm, watching everything and wanting to help with it all. These days, the future feels brighter for the whole family. And they are enjoying every moment together.
Illness has no place in a child’s life.
– Chloé, Mathieu, Léandre (4) and Ézalie (6)
Élixe, a brave little farmer
Discover Élixe's story, born with an esophageal anomaly.
