Marathon and A Goal

Like we mentioned before, we have some amazing people wanting to support and remember Evelyn through acts of kindness.  About a month ago, a friend of ours Andy reached out and told us about The Sedona Marathon that she was planning to run in early February.  She said that she wanted to run in Evelyn's honor, and doing so she would like to raise money for our goal of helping other parents in similar situations.  Here is Andy's message:

Hello. My name is Andrea (Andy) and I have run seven marathons including one in an Ironman Triathlon last Fall. I am currently training for the Sedona Marathon in Arizona on Saturday, February 2^nd . Given my past experiences it would be easy to say that I’m just doing another marathon. But that is not what this is.

This marathon is not about me at all. This challenge is in an effort to raise money and mostly in memory of lovely Evelyn Rose. The Lord took her shortly after she was born, but in that short time she touched the lives of so many including, of course, her parents Jim and Melissa.

The Sedona Marathon will be tough. It’s very hilly and in high elevation – like none that I have raced before. It will be a challenge, but like Jim and Melissa know through their much deeper challenge, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me"  Philippians 4:13. So I will remind myself of this with every step. The strength that rose Christ from the dead is the same strength that is in each and every one of us. That is how we get through our struggles.

Please help me honor Evelyn. If you can find it in your hearts, please visit http://evelynrosememorial.blogspot.com/ and donate to the Evelyn Rose Memorial Fund. In the very least, I ask that you keep this family in your prayers. This is just one way we can show our love and one more way we can serve. Thank you.

With Love,
Andy

We have a goal of $500.  This is the first attempt to raise money for others in Evelyn's name.   We couldn't be more excited to get things started.  What do we plan to do with the money? 
 
1). Materials for two (one boy / one girl) Christening Gowns.  I can't tell you how hard it was to find a baptismal gown at the last minute for Evelyn.  It was very important for us to have her baptized and my sister came through for us and found a gown.  She arrived right when the priest did.  We are going to design and construct (Melissa has years of professional experience in this area) outfits and donate them to a local NICU for the unfortunate event of a newborn having to be Christened in the NICU.  
2). Remembrance gifts to be used by parents in the NICU.  We knew that Evelyn was not going to be coming home with us.  We wanted to have something more than pictures to remember our little girl.  Luckily the NICU had a plaster stone that we used to have imprints of Evelyn's hands and feet.  We have those here in our home and can look at Evelyn's tiny imprint whenever we want.
3). Blankets, hats, and bows.  Someone donated a pink knitted hat and blanket to Evelyn in NICU.  That hat and blanket was on Evelyn as she passed away in our arms.  It's hard to imagine, but that blanket means a lot to us as it was once worn by our little angel. 

We never thought we would be in this situation, we never thought these little items would become large reminders of Evelyn.  We want to give back.  We ask you to help us.  We are working to make the donation process electronic.  In the meantime, donations can be made in the form of cash or check (or if you know Andy or us, you can give it in person).

Donations can be made to:
Evelyn Rose Memorial Fund
PO Box 9486
Naperville, IL 60567-9486

 For more information on the Sedona Marathon visit http://www.sedonamarathon.com/

Below is a picture of Evelyn in her Baptismal Gown and the remembrance craft item that was donated to us.  We chose not to share the pictures of Evelyn in her blanket - it was only worn for a short time and in private viewing of her parents and hospital staff.

A Walk to Remember

On October 13, 2012, was the 8th annual SHARE Walk to Remember.  A friend of a friend is one of the founders of this amazing event.  She mentioned it to our friend, who in turn encouraged us to check it out.  This event is a wonderful thing for parents that have experienced this type of loss.  It is part of the SHARE program which is an excellent support system for grieving parents (link below).  After talking about it with another friend, she suggested that we have shirts made so others can come support us or wear the shirt to remember Evelyn.  We had asked a friend that is a graphic designer to help with the shirts - he did an amazing job.  We had another goal in mind as well.... We set out to raise money through shirt sales to have a memorial brick placed in The Wings of Hope Angel Garden at Edwards Hospital (where the SHARE program is based). 


The Wings of Hope Angel Garden is a place where people can gather who wish they didn't share a common bond - the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or death in early infancy. The garden is a special place that allows parents who have lost a baby to memorialize and celebrate their child's life, however short.

Our goal was $550 for a memorial brick.  Our shirt sales and a little help from a friend's hair salon in Naperville we raised double that.  The garden just recently reopened from a major remodeling - we are looking forward to seeing Evelyn's memorial items in the garden soon (pictures to come).

It is amazing to see the support at the walk - it was a nasty, rainy day and still people were there standing it support of our little girl.

Special thanks to Jose, Jen, Lisa, and Megan for getting this project rolling and to all the friends and family that bought shirts or were there to show support.  We love you as much as you love our angel Evy!

 

http://www.edward.org/walktoremember

http://www.edward.org/wingsofhope

http://www.edward.org/SHAREResources

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pink-the-salon-naperville

4 Months Later - Focusing Everyone's Energy

So many lives have been touched by our angel.  We are very grateful for the amazing people sending prayers to us and Evelyn. It's been almost 4 months. It is easier today than it was even last week, but it is not easy. We are doing well and are still united together. Life feels like it has an overcast - like some kind of blurry filter was put over it.  We know we are going to be OK in time. We will never truly move on because a piece of us is stuck in that place. Sometimes I think that I wouldn't move on even if I could. I'm still holding on so tight to something that isn't there.

 We can't thank my friends and family enough. You have made a difference.
 

We have a goal outside of our own story and want to make a difference for others.  Ever since Evelyn passed we knew that we wanted to do something to honor her.  In fact everyone that knows us, or have heard her story, has wanted to do something in her name.  We have witnessed an amazing support network of love for our daughter.  With so many people wanting to contribute to Evelyn's memorial we decided it was time to get organized.  We are doing just that - and we plan for this blog to be much more than our story.... we plan to show what we all can do to help others in similar situations.  We unfortunately know first hand what did or would have helped us in our time of need. 

 

It is starting with us setting up a not for profit cooperation in Evelyn's name.  We have a name reserved and are filing the necessary paperwork and fees (out of our own pocket) so that we can focus all donations to help others.  I should mention that it is very important to us that everyone understands what our goal is and where any donation is going.  We will be very open about what the targets are and where money will go.  We already had a little fund raiser shortly after Evelyn became an angel.  I will share that with with you and update you on what we plan to do next.  Stay tuned, we are working hard to make a difference for others.

 

 

 

Our Story

Our first child was born on a Tuesday afternoon. We fell in love and established an instant bond. Her time with us was cut extremely short because of a brain hemorrhage. Two hospitals and dozens of amazing doctors did all they could while keeping her pain free.

We spent four extremely difficult days with our little girl, but are forever grateful for that time. We are forever in love with her. She touched so many hearts; each of us that were in her presence are truly blessed.

Rest with the Lord Evelyn. You are our angel watching over us. You were too perfect to be here with us. We will see you again.

Evelyn Rose

Born 2:44 pm 8/21/2012
Baptized 4:15 pm 8/25/2012
With the Lord 9:15 pm 8/25/2012