{"id":422,"date":"2026-05-31T12:59:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T12:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/?p=422"},"modified":"2026-06-03T13:11:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T13:11:48","slug":"hard-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/2026\/05\/31\/hard-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard Days"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The last couple of days, the team and Evelyn have been working hard to remove excess fluid from Evelyn’s lungs and give the swelling and inflammation time to improve. She had remained fully sedated and on a paralytic so the ventilator could do all of the work for her, allowing her body to focus on healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have been walking an incredibly fine line. Last week, Evelyn developed an acute kidney injury and her kidneys temporarily stopped working properly, so the team had to stop the diuretics and give her kidneys a chance to recover. While that helped protect her kidneys, it also allowed fluid to build up and made things harder on her lungs. Since then, they have been carefully balancing removing enough fluid to help her breathing without putting too much stress on her kidneys again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today brought a moment we’ve been waiting for. They were able to stop the paralytic, and Evelyn woke up some. She was alert enough to hold Daddy’s hand and answer yes and no questions. Seeing those little signs of her personality and awareness peek through all of this was incredibly special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The image on the left is from Thursday, and the image on the right is from today. There is a small improvement in her lungs. It may not look like much, but after everything she’s been through, we’ll take every bit of progress we can get. A small step forward is still a step forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We still have a long road ahead, and her lungs need more time to heal, but today gave us a glimpse of our girl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the middle of all the machines, medications, and uncertainty, getting to hold her hand and see her respond reminded us that she’s still right here, fighting every step of the way. \"\u2764\ufe0f\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

We\u2019re getting ready for the big fundraiser garage sale for COTA for Evelyn\u2019s Heart starting next Thursday! Thank you to everyone who has donated items to the garage sale!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THURSDAY MORNING JUNE 4th: Join us for coffee and donuts available for donation to COTA for Evelyn\u2019s Heart and shop our amazing items from our community!<\/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":"

The last couple of days, the team and Evelyn have been working hard to remove excess fluid from Evelyn’s lungs and give the swelling and inflammation time to improve. 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