November 23, 2009

ELMIRA -- It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but an Elmira family is already giving thanks for the support they received for their little boy fighting a severe case of the swine flu.
     Hundreds of people turned out for a benefit honoring Elijah Nist this weekend.
     At last count, the family raised $18,142. But that's just the beginning -- donations are still coming in.
     People lined up outside the Elmira VFW Sunday to show their support for Eli.  The eight-year-old has been on life support in Rochester for two weeks now.
     Medical expenses are building, and Eli's parents aren't able to work because they're at his bedside 24-7.
     “It’s amazing to see that even in these economic times that we're living in, with people laid off and seeking jobs, that people put that all aside and came out to support a little boy and his family,” said Eli’s aunt, Erin Morseman.
     His family tells us Eli had a rough night last night.  His life support machine wasn't working properly, and doctors had to physically pump air into his lungs.
     Eli's also bleeding a lot and has had several blood transfusions.  So the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive in his name on Saturday, November 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads.