Many of you have seen the updates and know the basics of Evelyn’s medical journey, but we wanted to take a moment to share a deeper look at the warrior behind the medicine.
While her medical charts are filled with complex terms, Evelyn is so much more than a patient. She is a vibrant five-year-old who lights up every room she enters. She’s the girl who is always ready to sing, loves dancing to K-Pop Demon Hunters, and is happiest when she’s being creative with makeup or crafts. She is full of joy and spirit—but she is also a fighter who has been navigating heart challenges since before she was even born.
A Lifetime of Bravery
Evelyn’s journey started before she was even born, during a 20-week ultrasound where her parents first learned about her heart defect. Since arriving in May 2020, her life has been a series of mountains to climb, beginning with her first major heart surgery when she was only three months old. Those early years were a whirlwind of medical milestones, and by the time she was two, she had already navigated multiple valve surgeries and the implantation of a pacemaker.
Through it all, her spirit remained unbreakable. Even in 2022, when she survived a three-minute cardiac arrest during a procedure, she showed the world exactly how much she wanted to be here.
Most recently, Evelyn was excited to finally start kindergarten, but that milestone was cut short by what seemed like a simple stomach bug. It turned out to be much more serious—it was heart failure. She was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart’s main pumping chamber becomes enlarged and too weak to do its job. Now, that same resilience is carrying her through her biggest fight yet as she waits for her new heart.
The Wait for a New Heart
Evelyn is currently listed as Status 1A, the highest priority level for a heart transplant. She is staying stable at the hospital, waiting for the “gift of life” that will allow her to get back to her friends, her dancing, and her life outside hospital walls.
Supporting a Lifetime of Care
Because a heart transplant is a lifelong commitment, the family is partnering with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA). COTA is a national organization dedicated to ensuring that families like Evelyn’s can focus on their child’s recovery rather than the staggering medical bills.
Why we support COTA:
- Direct Impact: 100% of proceeds given in honor of Evelyn go toward transplant-related expenses.
- Tax-Deductible: Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
- Lifelong Help: COTA stays with the family for life, helping with everything from the transplant itself to the decades of follow-up care that follow.
How You Can Help
Evelyn has spent her life being resilient. Now, it’s our turn to be her community of support. Whether you choose to wear a “Hearts for Evelyn” shirt or make a direct contribution to COTA for Evelyn’s Heart, you are helping this brave, joyful girl get the future she deserves.
Get your “Hearts for Evelyn” T-Shirt
Thank you for following Evelyn’s journey and for being part of the community that surrounds her with love.