Lots of love for little Stella

A 9 month old Kelowna girl continues to beat the odds, but her family knows she still has a long road ahead.

Stella Epp started to get sick ten days after she was born. She had open heart surgery at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver four months ago.

That’s when her family discovered Stella has partial trisomy 13. It’s a rare genetic condition that means the baby’s 13th chromosome has too much genetic material.

“When she was ten days old she stopped breathing,” says Stella’s mom Megan Epp. “At 19 days they started finding other things, holes in her heart, cysts on her kidneys.”

The condition can also cause vision and neurological problems and developmental delays. Stella’s parents were told she may never walk or speak but so far Stella continues to defy all odds.

The little girl’s courageous fight for life has inspired others to help. A golf tournament was held at Shadow Ridge Golf Club with all the proceeds going to Stella’s family for whatever the little girl needs in the future.

Use of the course was donated too.

“She’s worth it. I saw her when she was 2 or 3 months old and she had tubes and was struggling to breathe. She is coming along but she still has a long way to go so this is for her,” says club owner Gerry Asseltine

Stella’s parents are overwhelmed with the support they have received. The family has 8 medical specialists in 3 different cities and spends a lot of time living out of a suitcase.

Those who did not attend the golf tournament but would still like to help can do so by donating at the RBC branch on Cooper Road in Kelowna. The account is under the name “Team Stella”.