Ellie the stuffed Emesis Elephant recently did what most human beings could only dream of. She flew. To be clear she went skydiving to raise awareness for cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Find out more below or follow the original story here.
Ellie is a CVS Warrior. She’s one of three special plush toys that have been traveling the globe to bring hope to those afflicted by cyclic vomiting syndrome. Recently, she took a trip to Australia. Then she jumped out of a plane.
Toys like Ellie get passed around from the community of CVS patients and sufferers each month. Laura Joukador of Wollongong (age 24) received her most recently. Ellie traveled all the way from America. She was sent along by another CVS sufferer, Misty Nelson. It was Misty Nelson who is responsible for the creation and beginning of Ellie’s journey.
Laura won’t ever be able to go skydiving. Her condition makes it impossible. That’s why she decided to send Ellie the Elephant skydiving in her place. Hundreds of people now know about Ellie’s adventure thanks to an online network of supporters.
Laura describes her condition as severe. She suffers from violent vomiting, intense nausea, agonizing abdominal pain. Unfortunately that’s pretty typical for those suffering from cyclic vomiting syndrome. Once symptoms start they may last a few hours, or several days. To learn more about CVS, click here.
Symptoms can be eased and tre
ated but there is currently no cure for cyclic vomiting syndrome. Laura says it is possible for people to get lucky and grow out of the condition. She feels, however, that her chances are poor at this point. Medications help keep her symptoms in control.
The best she can do is take it all one day at a time, hoping that each day she wakes up is a day she’s not going to be sick.
She says she can’t understand how kids can manage to deal with it when adults like her have such a difficult time.
“That’s kind of why we banded together to show these kids there are adults all around the world who understand what they’re going through,” Laura said.
She wants CVS kids all over the world to know that they are not alone. That there are people in the world who support and understand them.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is often confused for gastroparesis. Beyond that, the rareness of CVS makes it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. Laura Joukador has been suffering from CVS for six years, but only received a diagnosis within the last two years.
With any luck, Ellie and her stuffed animal companions will continue to find homes and adventures throughout the world. They will bring not only comfort, and community, but a sense of awareness to those outside the community that may improve odds of finding effective treatment, or at the very least proper diagnosis.
