On April 18th 2019, beautiful Evie Elaine Carroll was born to much excitement for first-time parents, Justin and Angela.
Life was going well for the new family of three, and in September of 2019 Evie’s loving father Justin accepted a promotion in the family owned, express freight company that he worked. This promotion would mean that the Carroll family would relocate from Brisbane to Mackay. So Justin and Angela packed up all their belongings and set off with their little ray of sunshine, Evie, to Northern Queensland.
Evie was such a happy, healthy baby, growing every day. The loving family were thoroughly enjoying the life that they were building together, as a family of three.
Sadly, in September 2020 when Evie was just 17 months old, she suddenly fell ill. Highly concerned, Angela wasted no time in getting her to emergency at Mackay Base Hospital. Multiple scans and tests were conducted on Evie to get to the bottom of the rapid deterioration of her health.
Tragically, the scans had revealed a mass in little Evie’s brain causing pressure, that would require emergency surgery. As the Mackay Base Hospital did not have the capability to perform such a complex surgery, Evie was rushed by Careflight to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
Little Evie underwent the lifesaving surgery to relieve pressure building in her brain. The medical team were able to remove 80% of the mass, which they sent for testing to determine the cause. The results returned a finding consistent with an Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumour (AT/RT). This type of tumour develops from stem cells that helped the embryo to form in the womb, but have unfortunately remained active in the brain after birth. When these stem cells fail to stop dividing and developing after birth, they can form a cancerous tumour.
This is a very rare, fast-growing tumour of the brain and spinal cord that required Evie to undergo intensive treatment including radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Due to the treatment, care and support that Evie needed, the Carroll family had to leave Mackay and move back to Brisbane.
Justin transferred his employment back to Brisbane and worked tirelessly, 6 days a week, to ensure his precious daughter got to have her mother by her side.
The Carroll family were very lucky to have support from a close friend who invited them to move into their home. This helped to take some pressure off their financial situation, with Angela unable to leave Evie to work.
Evie has been a fighter every step of the way, and has been fortunate to have her mother with her 24/7, including in the lengthy stays at Ronald McDonald house.
Little Evie seemed to be responding well to her treatment. From chemotherapy to new age gamma ray technology, she endured it all. The longer she fought, the better her outlook seemed to be.
With Evie spending more time out of hospital Justin and Angela decided that they would move into their own place, so they could have some quality time with just the three of them. They rented a place in Brisbane that they could call their home.
Devastatingly, just as the family were making plans for their future, Evie had another setback.
After her latest treatment in September 2021, the doctors were prohibited from conducting the follow up scans, due to swelling that had formed in her brain. The medical team ran blood tests to try and figure out what was causing this swelling. Horrifyingly, these results and subsequent testing has shown that the cancer had now spread to Evie’s spine.
Sadly, Evie’s disease has progressed rapidly.
Just days ago (28th of September 2021), Justin and Angela were told by the Oncologist, that the cancer is now inoperable. The advice given by the medical staff was that it’s best to get Evie home and make her comfortable.
Arrangements were made and Evie is now with her parents, back in the family home.
This fundraiser was set up to ensure that Justin and Angela have one less thing to worry about. This will help to allow them to concentrate all their time, and love, on their precious beautiful daughter Evie.