{"id":438,"date":"2026-06-12T13:39:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/?p=438"},"modified":"2026-06-17T13:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:51:11","slug":"sometimes-all-we-can-do-is-hold-them-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforevelynsheart\/2026\/06\/12\/sometimes-all-we-can-do-is-hold-them-close\/","title":{"rendered":"Sometimes all we can do is hold them close\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week has been relatively\u00a0uneventful, which is something we’re very thankful for. Evelyn’s team continues to slowly wean her medications while working to find the right balance between supporting her lungs and optimizing her LVAD. Her lungs have taken the longest to recover, which isn’t surprising considering she was intubated for 20 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that Evelyn’s appetite continues to wax and wane, which is pretty normal during recovery. Today was a good eating day! She enjoyed mama’s homemade chicken alfredo, a cup of strawberries, a small apple, and even a bite of a chicken nugget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tonight, though, was one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks. Evelyn looked at me and asked, “Mama, when am I going to get my real voice back?” The truth is, I don’t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of you know but there is damage around her vocal cords, including granuloma from everything she’s been through. Her voice is still very soft and hoarse. We are hopeful that it will continue to improve with time, but right now there are no guarantees, and that’s a difficult reality to sit with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of all the hard conversations we’ve had over the past months, this one hurts a lot. As parents, we want to have answers. We want to reassure our children that everything will be okay. Sometimes all we can do is hold them close and tell them we’re going to keep taking things one day at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re incredibly proud of how hard she’s working and grateful for the steady progress. Thank you all for continuing to pray for our sweet girl and cheer her on as she takes these important steps forward \"\u2764\ufe0f\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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

This week has been relatively\u00a0uneventful, which is something we’re very thankful for. Evelyn’s team continues to slowly wean her medications while working to find the right balance between supporting her lungs and optimizing her LVAD. Her lungs have taken the longest to recover, which isn’t surprising considering she was intubated for 20 days. 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