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Infant needs more life-saving surgery, parents need support

Most people are born with a four-chambered heart. Jackson Elias was born with three.

The four-month-old Yellowknifer needs life-saving surgery to correct the congenital heart defect. Residents are being asked to attend a fundraiser, which is being held on March 23 at the Monkey Tree Pub from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., to help the infant and his family.

Tara-Lee Wedzin and Clyde Elias standing with Jackson Elias. The four-month-old Yellowknifer needs life-saving surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. GoFundMe photo

“He has to have a couple of procedures to correct his veins so that the blood flow can circulate through his body evenly without his heart having to do so much work,” said his mother, Tara-Lee Wedzin.

Jackson was born in November of last year. Since then, he, Wedzin and his father Clyde Elias have spent a lot of their time at Edmonton's Stollery Children’s Hospital.

He's already undergone two heart surgeries and a stomach operation.

His most recent surgery was on March 10 and he remains in hospital. In a few days he and his family will be moving back to Yellowknife until Jackson is 9 months old, when he'll be strong enough to handle an additional procedure, said his mother.

Erin Paul, a high school friend of Clyde, learned about the family’s problems and knew something needed to be done.

“After I heard what was happening, the next day I had an action plan and got to calling businesses, looking for donations,” she said.

Paul set up a GoFundMe page, which has raised nearly $3,000 of its $5,000 goal.

She’s hoping the amount raised from the GoFundMe page will be augmented by the fundraiser, which will feature an auction. Over 20 Yellowknife businesses have already donated about $4,000 in prizes for the event, include gifts such as helicopter rides, gym memberships and gift baskets.

“The support we've received from businesses has been overwhelming,” said Paul, who will be flying up from Edmonton the day of the event.

Once in Yellowknife, she has a busy schedule. Before the fundraiser starts, she will have to drive to each business to pick up the donations before making her way to the Monkey Tree.

“I have to run around to all the businesses and then be back and set up at the Monkey Tree,” she said.

After the fundraiser, there will be another smaller fundraiser at the Raven’s Pub at 9 p.m., where other donations are being auctioned off.

The funds will be donated to the Jackson's family to help pay for living expenses. His parents are currently living in emergency housing in Edmonton, but will have to find a new home once they move back to Yellowknife