News 8
Deformed Russian child finds hope in N. Texas 
04:56 PM CDT on Thursday, July 2, 2009
>Ella's story began in Russia; hope brought her to North Texas.
The four-year-old girl, who has no family in her home country, has a rare condition that only strikes one in a million.
Ella came from an orphanage in Russia to undergo several surgeries for a facial birth defect.
And while she may appear different than most, her spirit and love for life has already charmed many in North Texas.
"Everything is a new adventure," said Katherine Berend, who has taken Ella into her home during her stay
Wednesday, Ella yelled out in delight as she slid down slides and swung in a swing.
Berend, a mother to three kids, said her children are learning from their four-year-old visitor.
"We wanted our children to know this world does not revolve around them, that there are other children out there that have needs," she said.
Dr. Craig Hobar has tended to those needs. He created the Leap Foundation 19 years ago. The group pays for children, like Ella, to get the surgery they need.
"She needs the same chance in life that all of us need to develop into the person she can be," he said.
Dr. Hobar said it will take 12 hours and $100,000 to move Ella's displaced eye sockets, create a nose and remedy the bump on her head.
"When you see her forehead and you see that little spot sticking out, that is her brain and it is totally uncovered and unprotected," he said.
Despite the challenges and even the language barriers, Ella has communicated with her expressions, laughter and words.
"We learned the Russian word for "mine" because that was her first statement when she got her first toy," Berend said. "...Because she had never had anything of her own because she was in an orphanage."
Ella's first surgery won't be until September or October. Dr. Hobar wanted her to move to North Texas now to create a bond with her host family.
That bond will help when she's in pain from surgery and needs someone she can trust.
E-mail sslater@wfaa.com
