A Family’s Nightmare A young Ohio couple faced every parent’s worst fear just as they were preparing to bring their newborn home. Baby Ellieana Peyton, born on March 4, had a rare heart condition called cardiomyopathy. Her family explained that the left side of her heart was slightly smaller than normal. Despite the diagnosis, Ellieana seemed to be thriving. She spent her first few weeks in the NICU at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, under close monitoring. The Tragic Call Then, the unthinkable happened. Ellieana’s parents had stepped out of the hospital to shower when they received a gut-wrenching phone call. “The parents went home to shower and got a call stating their baby had been dropped,” family friend Stella Dunlap wrote on a GoFundMe page. “The nurse had kept the baby’s monitor cords in her pocket. When she walked away, the baby was dragged from her NICU crib.”
According to the Franklin County coroner, Ellieana suffered a fractured skull and brain ble*ds from the fall. Investigators confirmed the injuries were accidental. Despite medical efforts, she did not survive her injuries.
“She made this world a better place for 29 days. Rest in peace, Ellieana,” Dunlap wrote.
Her family described Ellieana as a bright, joyful presence.