
09/29/2025
At just 13 years old, Elias has already faced more medical challenges than most people do in a lifetime. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome — a serious congenital heart condition where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped —
Elias spent a significant amount of his childhood in-and-out of hospitals, enduring countless surgeries, pokes, prods, and painful injections.
To help ease some of his fears, his mom Cecile would bring fun, character themed Band-Aids to the hospital, hoping to bring a smile through tough moments with the help of friendly faces from Spiderman and Star Wars.
Recognizing an unmet need, Elias had a thoughtful idea for his birthday. Instead of gifts, he asked for Band-Aid donations to bring that same joy to other kids like him.
And quickly it grew.
What started with thirty boxes quickly transformed into The Owie Project — a homegrown initiative that brings comfort and joy to children going through medical procedures, one Band-Aid at a time.
🌟 This , we invite you to read Elias’ full story and learn how he turned his challenges into a movement: https://glenrosefoundation.com/the-owie-project-elias-story/