On what would normally be an amazing Sunday afternoon, on June 4th, 2023, Eva found her way into the family pool without her floatation device. After being discovered, CPR was performed, and emergency medical technicians rushed her to Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital where emergency physicians and nurses worked tirelessly to save her. After over 45 minutes of CPR the emergency staff was able to revive Eva's heart and stabilize her for transport to the pediatric intensive care unit at Bronson Children's hospital. This is where the story of The Eva Martin Project began.
Becky and I rushed to Kalamazoo from Saint Joseph, but honestly much of the drive is a blur of disbelief and despair. While doctors and nurses stabilized her, we waited in the waiting room for any news, pacing, praying, and hoping. When we were finally brought back to the room to sit with our sweet Eva, the nurse pulled back the curtain; our sweet child lay in bed as if she were just sleeping, but next to her lay two stuffed animals, a parrot, and a multicolored fish (which she certainly would have picked out) and a beautiful purple butterfly blanket that she comfortably lay under. In our rush to get to the hospital Becky and I didn't even think to grab a stuffed animal or blanket that Eva always had wherever she went. To see her laying there with the blanket and the stuffed animals brought us so much comfort that someone took the time to care enough to offer comfort items to our sweet baby. Even though we only came home with that blanket and fish, the amount of comfort we received from seeing her with them meant the world to us.
During emergency situations involving children, families generally don’t have time or don’t think to grab a child’s favorite stuffed animal or blanket. Families are rightfully concerned with the well-being of the child. The Eva Martin Project is created to provide comfort and help soothe children and their families during their hospital stay. Through The Eva Martin Project, your donations will be used for daily operation expenses and to purchase additional stuffed animals and blankets. For more information, visit www.theevamartinproject.org.
