Hello friends and family! This is my 4th year riding the courage classic, and this year I am riding in honor of Everlee. Here is a bit about heart warrior Everlee:
At 15wks, we found out Everlee was our Heart Warrior. By 23wks, we had a plan for a three stage surgery in Omaha, NE. Evvie faced her first battle at 10 days old undergoing her first open heart surgery. After surgery, she went into cardiac arrest and was placed on ECMO. This event changed the course of Evvie's care due the damage it caused. After two failed extubations and a trip to the cath lab, she was evaluated for a transplant. On 4/26/22, we boarded a plane to Children's in CO. Once in CO, Evvie was extubated and was listed for transplant on 5/28/22. While waiting, she had multiple cath lab trips, interventions and received a G-tube. On 1/25/23, after 227 days on the list, Everlee received her new heart. Unfortunately, her donor heart had suffered damage that was undetected during her transplant and procedures following. She was placed on ECMO and battled for 15 days until we decided she should be able to gently leave this world and join her namesakes in Heaven. Everlee loved her big brothers and would light up with love when she saw them. She loved to giggle at her daddy, pull on his beard & nestle into his chest. She loved hearing her mama sing & read books. She loved laying heart to heart with her mama chatting about her future, dance parties & her many visitors from the staff. She was known as "The Duchess" because of her extensive wardrobe, blankets and sheets. Everlee, our Joyful Warrior, was loved deeply by all. She changed our world and is deeply missed every moment.
I feel honored to be riding to honor strong resilient warrior Evvie. Please feel free to donate whatever you can to continue the ongoing research and support that Childrens Hospital needs to continue serving families like Evvie. Thank you for your consideration!