Today was not part of the original plan, but I want to share an update on Evelyn and also explain what happened in a way that makes sense.
We were preparing to move toward taking her breathing tube out, and before that we had asked if her three chest drainage tubes could be removed while she was still sedated and comfortable. The team agreed, and it was done with that goal in mind so she wouldn’t have to experience that pain while awake.
Two of the tubes came out without any issues.
The third one did not. It would not budge despite careful attempts at the bedside, and even by the surgeon. Because of that, the decision was made to bring Evelyn to the OR so they could look more closely rather than risk forcing it.
Once there, they discovered that a suture from her chest closure had unintentionally caught and secured the drain, which is why it could not be removed normally. The surgeon was able to reopen only a very small portion of her chest incision (about an inch and a half) to safely release and remove the tube, and then close everything back up.
As hard as that moment was, I am very grateful for how it was handled. They did not force anything, and they chose the safest possible route to protect her. I am also very thankful we were able to take care of this while she is still sedated, because if this had been discovered after her breathing tube was removed, she likely would have needed to be re-intubated for the procedure.
This was not expected, but it was handled with caution and care, and she is now back resting.
Advocating for your child matters. Speaking up matters. Trusting your instincts matters, it goes to show just how important it is to be present and involved in every step of her care. We have a PHD in Evelyn.
We are continuing forward, one step at a time, and will see what tomorrow brings. 
How You Can Help
We’re getting ready for the big fundraiser garage sale for COTA for Evelyn’s Heart! Thank you to everyone who has donated items to the garage sale! If you would like to help with the sale any of the days, please reach out to Rose Thompson on Facebook.
Garage Sale Details:
June 4-6
Location: 7040 Eagle Trail, Centerville, MN
Time: Thurs. and Fri. 8am to 5pm
Sat. 8am to 12pm
Get your “Hearts for Evelyn” T-Shirt
Join our “Hearts for Evelyn” Facebook Group
What makes our partnership with COTA so great is that they will be with Evelyn throughout her lifetime. Every dollar donated to COTA in honor of Evelyn goes to transplant-related expenses. Thank you for being here with us for Evelyn.