My team
My Story…
Live4Evan has been a huge part of our family's life for the past several years. My dad is on the board of Live4Evan and is the brains behind the incredible Live4Evan Falmouth Road Race Team. My husband and father-in-law joined the running world after seeing the community, excitement, and energy that the Falmouth Road Race brings back in 2019. We have all run for Team Live4Evan every year since.
This past year, the importance of the Live4Evan mission was made even more clear to our family. On April 1, 2023, after a routine fetal monitoring at my 30-week appointment, my anxiety told me something wasn't right. The doppler sounded too fast. The next morning I used my home doppler to check the baby's heartbeat. The monitor read 220. I called the hospital and they told me to come to L&D, certain I was getting a misread. When they hooked me up to the monitors the nurses looked terrified. The baby's heartrate was sustained at 220 bpm and she was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia. I was sent to another hospital where we met with pediatric cardiologists and started treatment. After several hours, baby's heartrate converted to normal rhythm. She got to stay in for a little longer. Bi-weekly appointments, medication, and non-stress tests kept baby and me safe for another 9 weeks. Because we were able to catch the tachycardia and help convert her back to normal rhythm relatively quickly, there were no signs of damage to her heart.
On June 6, 2023 our girl made her dramatic entrance into this world. A fetal echocardiogram showed minor structural abnormalities that will hopefully correct themselves as Jordyn continues to grow. We are now under the care of cardiologists at Boston Children's and have been able to see, firsthand, why everyone speaks so highly of Children's.
Jordyn's cardiac condition is mild compared to what many of the families who have children born with CHD experience. If Jordyn continues to develop well and is able to correct the structural abnormalities on her own, she will not need surgery or extended stays in the hospital.
Our experience having a child with a medically complicated start to life has given us a new perspective on the importance of having access to top-notch medical care and being able to be close to your child when they need you most. Live4Evan provides access to both of these necessities to families from all over by providing housing near world-renowned Boston Children's Hospital.
We are so grateful for all the care we have received from Boston Children's and for all the support from the Live4Evan Family as we worked to navigate being thrown into parenthood <3
Description
ABOUT US: The Live4Evan Organization was formed out of a desire to recognize and support the critical relationship between a child and their loved ones. We believe that there is no greater gift to be given than a parent’s love to a child. We understand the importance of staying by a child’s side without having to worry about the additional burdens that life can place on us. And so, our organization works tirelessly to provide financial and emotional support to families by providing them with temporary housing while their child receives congenital cardiac treatment.
The Falmouth Road Race has been a crucial fundraiser for Live4Evan for the past 6 years. Over this time, the Live4Evan team members have collectively raised over $500,000. Thanks in large part to these efforts, Live4Evan is currently providing SIX patient-family apartments for families traveling to Boston for pediatric cardiac care. These apartments are next to Boston Children's Hospital and offer calm and comfort in the midst of such a difficult time. The close proximity to the hospital ensures that caretakers can be at their loved ones bedside in a moment's notice. The need for patient-family housing is critical and Live4Evan is committed to increasing our apartment portfolio in order to help additional families.
OUR STORY: Live4Evan was founded in memory of Evan Girardi, who passed away his senior year of college from a heart arrhythmia. Evan was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) known as Corrected L-Transposition of the Great Arteries. Despite his heart condition, Evan lived his life to the fullest. Rather than allow Evan’s passing to put an end to the life and legacy that Evan had built, his friends and family formed Live4Evan to serve as a testament to the power of relationships and the importance of having loved ones by your side.
Watch our video to learn more about the Live4Evan Organization by clicking HERE or by visiting our website.
DONATE: If you would like to make a donation, support one of our runners below or send a check to LIVE4EVAN at P.O. Box 845 Hopkinton, MA 01748
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 31 | Matt Brown | Undisclosed amount |
| Jul 30 | Scott & Denise Tibbo | $273.35 |
| Jul 30 | Anonymous | $109.85 |
| Jul 24 | Hannah Batchelder | $28.10 |
| Jul 24 | Nancy Ryan | Undisclosed amount |
| May 09 | The Casadys | $109.85 |
| May 06 | Ashley DeRoy | $28.10 |
| May 05 | Anonymous | $28.10 |
