{"id":346,"date":"2026-05-01T16:11:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/?p=346"},"modified":"2026-05-02T16:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:24:12","slug":"cheat-death-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/2026\/05\/01\/cheat-death-day\/","title":{"rendered":"“Cheat Death Day”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 3rd will always be Evelyn\u2019s \u201cCheat Death Day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to share this a couple days early, because it\u2019s a part of her story that shaped everything that came after in her journey ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that point, she had already gone through two heart surgeries in just two weeks, and we were preparing for her third, a surgery to replace her pacemaker after an infection. She was taken back to the OR at 7:30am. We were told, \u201cno news is good news.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around noon, I remember looking over at Ross. Neither of us said a word, but we both felt it, something wasn\u2019t right. That kind of heaviness you can\u2019t explain, but you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 12:15pm, instead of the usual update call, her cardiologist and the head doctor walked into our room. And in that moment, everything changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They told us Evelyn had gone into cardiac arrest during surgery. There had been a puncture that hit her heart, and she bled out. They performed open chest CPR for 3 minutes before they were able to get her pulse back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three minutes that felt like a lifetime. Three minutes that could have taken everything from us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This day will forever be one of the hardest days of our lives, for me as her mom, and for Ross as her dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s also the day Evelyn fought in a way most people will never understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s still here. And that means everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How You Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’re getting ready for Evelyn’s birthday and the\u00a0big fundraiser garage sale for\u00a0COTA for\u00a0Evelyn’s Heart! Thank you to everyone who has donated items to the garage sale and reached out to help celebrate Evelyn’s birthday! If you want to send a birthday card, visit the\u00a0Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0for instructions on how to get a hold of Kelly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garage Sale Details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June 4 – 6
Location: 7040 Eagle Trail, Centerville, MN
Time: Thurs and Fri- 8am to 5pm
Sat- 8am to 12pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click Here to Donate Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get your “Hearts for Evelyn” T-Shirt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join our “Hearts for Evelyn” Facebook Group<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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