April is National Donate Life Month, a time dedicated to celebrating those who have saved lives through donation and encouraging others to consider the incredible impact a single person can have. For those of us rallying behind Evelyn, this month carries a weight that is deeply personal.
As many of you know, Evelyn has been waiting at the Mayo Clinic for over six months for a heart transplant. She cannot come home until she receives a donor heart. Her story is a powerful reminder of the “gap” that exists in organ donation- the space between a life-saving miracle and the reality of the wait.
The Reality of the Wait
The statistics are a stark reminder of why we need to talk about donation:
48,000+ transplants were performed in the U.S. last year. These represent 48,000 stories of hope and second chances.
13 people still die every single day while waiting for an organ.
1 person can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance 75 more through tissue donation.
Standing with Evelyn
Seeing Evelyn and her family navigate the uncertainty of the transplant list makes the mission of organ donation feel more urgent than ever. We are currently witnessing the strength of a family waiting for that one phone call that will change everything, and it is our goal to make sure they have the support they need when that moment arrives.
How You Can Help
We are so grateful for every way our community has shown up for Evelyn. To date, the community has raised over $118,000 of the next goal of $150,000 for COTA in honor of Evelyn’s Heart. These funds are vital; they ensure that financial barriers- like lodging near Mayo, medications, and transportation- do not stand in the way of her receiving a life-saving heart and recovering safely.
Here is how you can take action today:
Register as a Donor: It takes less than two minutes at RegisterMe.org Your decision could be the miracle another family is praying for.
Support COTA for Evelyn’s Heart: 100% of every dollar donated in Evelyn’s honor goes directly to her transplant-related expenses. You can give right here on the COTA site: Link to Donation Page
Dine to Donate: Visit Panda Express on Friday April 10th anywhere in the country, use our fundraiser code in the app, 9013507, and 28% of sales will go to COTA in honor of Evelyn’s Heart.
The gap between waiting in a hospital and finally going home closes one registration at a time. Thank you for being part of Evelyn’s village and for considering the gift of life.