
Elliott was born with a rare genetic disorder called oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1). Due to this syndrome, his kidneys were not formed normally. 18 years after Elliot's first kidney transplant he experienced a smoldering rejection of his kidney, leaving Elliot's mother to search for a hospital that would accept his high risk case. After being rejected by many hospitals, their hopes were low, until they met with the UPMC Kidney Transplant Program.