This sweet girl is my niece, Evangelina. My sister, Tiffany and her husband Greg welcomed her into the world August 18th at the very same hospital their previous baby boy had passed fifteen years prior but was required to go there for insurance purposes. It was a very stressful labor because Evie got stuck and had the cord wrapped around her neck. When she finally came out she wasn't breathing and had a very low heart rate. Luckily the doctors were able to intubate and get her some oxygen and stimulate her heart to do what it needed but unfortunately she needed to be airlifted to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for more help. They suspected brain damage so induced therapeutic hypothermia to keep it fom progressing but after they warmed her 3 days later and did an MRI they found the damage to her brain had been done a couple weeks prior in utero due to lack of oxygen to the placenta and there wasn't going to be much more they could do to help her brain and diagnosed her with HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy). Her brain stem is small, but good the doctors have said she will not be able to breath, eat or move on her own and requires a breathing vent because while she can inhale she doesn't exhale enough which creates a build up of c02. She is a month old now and has started to move her arms down to her wrists AND her little legs and feets! Which is a strong improvement and such a beautiful thing to watch! Evie had trach and g tube surgery recently and is recovering well from that! After we all learn the Do's and Dont's she will get to go home, where we hope she will do as well as the positive stories we've heard from other families with HIE children! She is a fighter and surrounded by so much love and prayers.

Mom and dad are going to have to purchase all new things for her that will be more suited to the trach and g tube, which unfortunately aren't cheap. Evie will have to remain at PCH for about 2 more months but hopefully home in time for Thanksgiving. Mom and dad need help with gas, food and will hopefully be able to get some more hospital grade things like a HEPA purifier for the babys area to keep the air as clean as possible to prevent any infection which can be common with tracheostomies. And as if things weren't already complicated, a lady had hit them on the way home from the hospital last week and is trying to get out of fixing the only car they had for transportation to work and the hospital. So now they are trying to find a way to make it legal to drive again!

ANY help, prayers and sharing is greatly appreciated!