Dear Friends, Family, and Kind Strangers,
My name is Tara Eveland, and today I am humbly reaching out to ask for your help. We are in a time of crisis, one that I never imagined we would face. Yet, I am filled with gratitude for each of you who takes the time to read our story. We thank you in advance for any support you can provide, whether it be financial, your time, or your prayers. We understand that times are tough for everyone right now, and we would never want you to put yourself in hardship on our account.
My son Jack is a fighter.
Born with medical issues, he has faced challenges from the beginning. Despite the odds, he always comes through with a smile, teaching us all a lesson in resilience. Now, Jack needs to fight once more, and we, his family, are standing by his side, ready to do whatever it takes.
Jack is a unique individual with a spirit that outshines his medical complications. Since birth, he has had to undergo multiple surgeries. From a procedure to enable breastfeeding as a newborn, to having a biopsy on a swollen lymph node at age 4. He's always been "medically different", but this has never dampened his spirit.
At age 5, we faced a major setback when Jack experienced a severe reaction to his kindergarten immunizations. He suffered from seizures, loss of muscle tone, and loss of muscle memory. He was later diagnosed with a permanent intellectual disability, requiring lifelong care. This didn't slow him down, however. Guided by diligent homeschooling, Jack has been making great strides in his education and enjoying a relatively normal preteen life. But then...
Two weeks ago, our lives took another unexpected turn
Jack began spending more time in the bathroom, eventually reaching a point where he couldn't urinate at all. He was rushed to the hospital, where a complex medical issue was discovered that the local hospital was not equipped to deal with. Jack was immediately transported to the Children's Hospital in downtown Richmond.
Since then, Jack has had an emergency surgery and will require multiple additional surgeries. We are bracing ourselves for the associated medical expenses, and we are doing our best to manage the costs of Jack's round-the-clock medications and other necessary supplies.
We've been hit hard by the current economy. In December, I lost my job and have been unable to secure full-time employment despite multiple interviews and efforts. We are behind on our rent and car payments, and the upcoming costs are mounting. Our vehicle is crucial for getting Jack to the hospital for his surgeries and clinic appointments, and it is our only means of obtaining groceries and medications, as delivery services are unavailable where we live.
We are setting an initial goal of $5000 for this fundraiser. This amount will help us keep our home, maintain our vehicle, and cover some of the medical expenses that we're facing. We anticipate that the costs will rise significantly in the coming months as Jack undergoes further operations, and we will keep this campaign updated accordingly.
In this challenging time, our faith remains unshaken. We believe in the healing power of Jesus' name. We have faith in God's promise, knowing that He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him. We are asking for your prayers, for they are powerful and effective. Thank you for standing with us in faith and hope during this challenging time.
With love and gratitude,
Tara Eveland and Family
p.s. Updates will be provided via this page if you'd like to follow
p.s.1 June 1st, 2023 / The appointment Tuesday went so well, it was such a relief to have something go as planned, dare I say "better" than we had planned and hoped for? :) He did not have to have an iv of fluids, they were able to use his direct catheter line and fill his bladder for the test he had to do. If they took the catheter out and he was unable to urinate, it was going to have to go back in his body and let me tell ya'll, we were ALL ready for that thing to be gone. He is to stay on his meds and finish two out completely, then we follow up in 3 weeks at childrens and if all is well and he is fully recovered from this one, they will go on to the next surgery in 4 weeks, at the end of June. Thank you to our church family, the ladies have been amazing with creating a meal train that has been extrememly helpful this past week, I had forgotten how much a hot meal at the end of a hard day could really make a person feel loved. We def. feel the love, prayers, and support from each and every one of you. Thank you so much to everyone that has been here for us during this time. We really appreciate it so much. I will update soon, Be blessed, Tara Eveland, Jacks Mom
