One Village, One Heart for Evelyn Gaviana

05/30/2026

The best update ever 💜

05/11/2026

CHD Fact of the Day 🫀One thing people don’t see when it comes to CHD…

💊 The medications.

Heart babies—especially those with single ventricle physiology—are often on multiple medications, multiple times a day ⏰

And not just for a short time… sometimes for months or years.

Let’s break it down in simple terms 👇

—

💧💊 Diuretics (“water pills”)
Examples: Lasix (furosemide), Spironolactone

➡️ These help remove extra fluid so the heart ❤️ and lungs 🫁 don’t get overwhelmed

⚠️ Side effects:
• Dehydration 💦
• Electrolyte imbalances ⚡ (low potassium, sodium issues)
• Frequent urination 🚼
• Irritability or fatigue 😴

—

❤️💊 ACE Inhibitors (heart support meds)
Examples: Enalapril, Captopril

➡️ Help the heart pump more efficiently & reduce strain

⚠️ Side effects:
• Low blood pressure 📉
• Dizziness 😵‍💫
• Kidney stress (needs lab checks 🧪)

—

🩸💊 Blood Thinners / Anticoagulants
Examples: Aspirin, Lovenox, Heparin

➡️ Help prevent dangerous blood clots

⚠️ Side effects:
• Easy bruising 🟣
• Bleeding risk 🩸
• Frequent blood draws 🧪

—

🫁✨ Oxygen support (not a medication—but treated like one)

➡️ Helps keep oxygen levels stable when the heart can’t fully do it

—

🍼💊 Reflux / GI medications
Examples: Pepcid, Omeprazole

➡️ Help with feeding struggles & reflux

⚠️ Side effects:
• Stomach discomfort 🤢
• Changes in digestion

—

🍼➕ Fortifiers / high-calorie supplements

➡️ Added to feeds to help babies gain weight ⚖️
Because they burn so many calories just breathing & circulating

—

😴💉 Sedation medications (for procedures)

➡️ Used for echos, MRIs, cath lab

⚠️ Higher risk in CHD kids because:
• Oxygen levels are already fragile 🫁
• Circulation isn’t typical ❤️

—

📊 The reality of daily life:

Many CHD babies take:
• 2–5+ medications 💊💊💊
• 2–4 times per day ⏰
• Sometimes even overnight 🌙

And doses change constantly based on:
• Weight ⚖️
• Oxygen levels 🫁
• Lab results 🧪
• Surgical stage ❤️

➡️ Parents are basically running a mini pharmacy at home 🏥

—

💔 The part people don’t see:

• Middle-of-the-night meds 🌙⏰
• Measuring exact doses every time 📏
• Watching closely for side effects 👀
• Coordinating feeds + meds 🍼💊
• Stressing over every tiny change 😞

One missed dose can matter.
One wrong dose can matter.

It’s constant.

—

❤️ And all of this…
just to keep their tiny hearts stable enough for the next step.

CHD isn’t just surgeries.

It’s daily, around-the-clock care that most people will never see.

04/15/2026

04/06/2026

This one really hits home and it’s become a staple for Magaly since going dairy free since Evelyn has a cows milk protein allergy (CMPA).

Save the Date! ❤️

On April 28, National Superhero Day, we’re partnering with Panda Express for a special virtual fundraiser to support heart warriors and their families. Order Panda Express online for pickup or delivery and help make a difference!

When you place your order and apply the fundraiser code 9013623 at checkout 28% of sales will be donated to Heart Heroes to support children and families impacted by Congenital Heart Disease.

04/04/2026

Let's crack some CHD myths this Easter. 🐰🐣

03/28/2026

Evelyn update:

Thank you for all of the love, thoughts and prayers.

It’s been a VERY long day. Unfortunately, surgery was not performed as planned today due to some complications; however Evelyn is stable. So that is wonderful news. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We do not know when surgery will be rescheduled.

Here’s a picture from this week just because she’s beautiful 💜

03/27/2026

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with hearts full of hope, fear, and deep love for sweet Evelyn. Lord, You know every detail of her tiny body, every beat of her heart, and every breath she takes. We place her fully in Your hands as she goes into surgery today.
We ask that You surround Evelyn with Your peace and comfort. Calm her spirit, steady her body, and let her feel the warmth of Your presence every moment. Give her strength beyond measure, and carry her through this surgery safely.
Lord, we lift up Dr. Bleiweis and every member of the surgical team. Guide their hands with precision, wisdom, and clarity. Let every decision be led by You. Grant them focus, confidence, and steady hearts as they care for Your precious child.
Be with our family as we wait. Wrap us in Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Replace fear with faith, anxiety with trust, and exhaustion with strength. Remind us that You are right there in the operating room, in the waiting room, and in every moment in between.
We pray for a successful surgery, for healing, and for a smooth recovery. May Evelyn continue to be the strong, beautiful fighter she has already shown herself to be.
Lord, we trust You. We lean on You. And we place Evelyn completely in Your loving care.
In Jesus’ name,�Amen.

03/25/2026

CHD Fact 💔

This doesn’t even begin to include the cost for a family to be at the hospital every single day — transportation, meals, drinks, and basic living expenses just to stay close to their child. It also doesn’t account for the reality that a parent (in our case, the only parent because her daddy tragically passed in a car accident) may be unable to work, while still trying to keep up with bills like car payments and insurance.

Congenital heart disease is not just an emotional journey… it’s a significant financial burden as well. One that many families carry quietly while fighting for their child’s life.

Please keep CHD families in your prayers and hearts. 💜

03/23/2026

Our sweet Evelyn update 💜

03/18/2026

💚🍀 The cutest little clover in the patch 🍀💚

NICU baby with green St. Patrick's Day decorations in cot.