Each month, we donate of portion of our profits to a child with medical needs through the Legendairy Littles program. For the month of April, we have selected an a little ray of sunshine named Everly.
Everly Allyson was born August 9, 2018 at only 24-weeks gestation. She was as big as her Daddy’s hand and weighed 1 lb 6 oz. Since birth she has required the support of a ventilator and has been diagnosed with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) which is a chronic lung disease, as well as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) which is an open flap in her heart that allows un-oxygenated blood into her body. Although Everly is tiny, she has a lot of fight in her. At only one month old, Everly received a steroid treatment to help improve her lung growth. Her family was glad that it seemed to be helping. Everly was able to be moved from a full ventilator system to one that would allow her to pull her own breaths. Everly was able to pull her own breaths for four days before her breathing tube needed to be reinserted.
On December 6, at almost four months old, Everly underwent four surgical procedures. Doctors warned that these procedures would be difficult for an “average” infant to recover from, and Everly was much more sick then “average." She underwent a tracheostomy, two hernia repairs that were present from birth, and a gtube placed. Yet again, Everly showed that she was much more powerful then her young age would suggest. She flourished after surgery, shocking her doctors and nurses.
Only two weeks later, Everly’s BPD had progressed to what is considered the end. It was asked of her parents to sign a DNR and to turn off her ventilator. But Everly’s parents decided on a treatment option that had a very low possibility of working. Through January and February 2019, Everly continued to, once again, get stronger and stronger. With over 200 days in the hospital, Everly is the oldest baby in her NICU unit. She has had 80 x-rays, 11 blood transfusions, 20 IVs, 4 PIC-lines, and she has had her heel pricked over 400 times. Her family is currently waiting a discharge date so Everly can go home and spend time with her two older sisters, Ashton and Mkenzi. Everly will be having surgery within the next few months to fix the hole in her heart. Additionally, she will require her ventilator for at least four or five years.
The donation from Legendairy Milk will help Everly’s family with travel expenses as well as equipment for physical therapy. If you would like to donate directly to Everly’s family, you may do so through their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/supporting-everly-allyson&rcid=r01-15524040821-5f3c703b50fd494c&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w