Prognosis for Lillian Bay outstanding, could even be considered a ‘miracle’

Lilly Bay

The daughter of Nikki Beatty and Brad Beatty was born with a cystic hygroma in her mouth and throat. She has lived her life eating most of her food through a tube, and breathing through a trach tube.

After her visit to CHOP, though, it appears as though she might be a “normal” little girl by Christmas.

“There have been four times in my life I’ve cried with joy,” Nikki said. “When Lilly was born, after her first surgery, and the first time I heard her voice. The next time was the day last week when the doctor told us her hygroma was receding on its own, and that’s a miracle. It was so amazing to know we could go home, get her tonsils out, and within two months hopefully get the trach out.”
On November 8 Lilly will return to All-Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where they will take her tonsils and adenoids out. Then the process begins to slowly wean her off the trach.
They still aren’t sure when the stomach tube will come out, but she only uses it at night. She now takes her food by mouth during the day.

“The doctor said it’s a one-in-a-million chance for the growth to recede on its own,” Nikki said.

Boots and Dick Tolsdorf, two island residents who helped to set up the visit at CHOP and who helped house the Beatty family during their stay in Philadelphia, are overjoyed that everything turned out so well.

“We are beyond happy,” Boots said. “There are no words to describe our joy for the Beatty family.”

Lilly’s dad, Brad, was overwhelmed by the news as well.

“Miracles do happen,” he said.