What a year this has been. The past few months have been so hectic we haven’t had a chance to put an update together on Evelyn in quite some time.

We are so grateful for Evelyn to have received her gift of life on September 22nd 2023. Her surgery was from 10 hours overnight. This was by far the longest night of our lives as we waited to hear news. Fortunately, Evelyn only had one complication during surgery and we were back at her side. We spent the next month recovering in-patient at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Following discharge, we were not allowed to go home so Evelyn could be close to the hospital as she continued to recover. We were able to stay next door at the Ronald McDonald House through December 22nd. Those months at Ronald were definitely tough, having a family of four live in what is essentially a hotel room but most importantly we were together and Evelyn was healing.

One of her primary arteries had some narrowing after surgery that required a follow-up surgery. This was a scary thought for us because had they not been able to widen it could have put her back on the transplant list for a new liver. The first attempt at the surgery to widen her artery was unsuccessful. Being so close to her recent transplant they were concerned about rupturing the artery and wanted to give it more time to heal. At 2 months post-transplant, they made a second attempt and were able to widen her artery. So far it has continued to remain open with good blood flow. We are so grateful for this and pray it continues to perform as it should.

We were able to go home officially on December 22nd. We were so grateful to get to spend Christmas together. But as you know life continues to throw curveballs. On Christmas Eve Evelyn started vomiting repeatedly. This led to her being airlifted from our local hospital back to Cincinnati Children’s. She was dehydrated and fighting an infection. Even though this is an infection that would typically be mild in another child, for an immunocompromised child, it becomes very severe. She was in-patient for another week before getting to go home. Again, this didn’t last long as Evelyn started getting sick again. We were readmitted to the hospital on January 2nd and have been in-patient ever since. Evelyn has gotten a second infection. Her medical team is continuing to support her to make sure she remains healthy and stable and we’re hoping to be home in a few days.

I hope people realize why we preach so much for the health of our daughter. Things like washing your hands and staying away if sick. Even Cameron and I are continuing to get into good habits and learning when and where to draw lines. Minor colds, infections, and viruses can land us straight in the hospital for weeks. We realize how much we’re going to have to do to protect her. It will be a balance of keeping her safe while still letting her grow and live a fulfilling life. Fortunately, the older she gets things will be easier on her. She will also have a “weak little army” of an immune system but she will be stronger and able to do things to help keep herself safe (like no longer trying to eat stuff off the floor like all babies do!).

Evelyn’s liver journey has definitely thrown us some curveballs, particularly these past few weeks, that we weren’t ready for but I know as long as we can continue to endure as a family we will make it through. Thank you all for your continued prayer, love, and support for our sweet girl.