We haven?t made an Evie?s Strong Heart shirt in 3 years! Evie came to me wanting to design one and I thought it was a great year for a few reasons. One, she?s turning 10 this year! Wow?I can honestly say the fear that first planted itself inside of me when I was thirty weeks pregnant made me feel that this milestone wouldn?t be reached. That fear lives inside of me daily, but seeing the quality of life she has and the unending joy she spreads gives me the strength to keep the fear at bay. Two, this past year we haven?t received the ?everything looks the same? that we always want to hear at her check ups twice a year. This year her liver started showing significant damage and the presence of lesions. With her Fontan blood flow that keeps her alive we knew liver damage was inevitable, but we?re hoping we wouldn?t see it for many years to come. She also randomly goes into junctional rhythm, another thing we knew may happen, but still hoped it would also be years before she started having rhythm issues. And last month they found a blood clot in her heart. She was put on a strong anticoagulant and has had to get blood draws 2-3 times a week to check her levels to make sure they aren?t too high, but high enough to hopefully help the blood clot absorb into the body and keep her body from making anymore clots. As of now we aren?t sure how long she will have to stay on this medication. As I?m sure you?re aware, Evie is a rock star at being the most amazing patient and has taken the blood draws in stride, like she has her whole life. Of course wishing she didn?t have to deal with these things, but knowing she has to. Her light has not dimmed. When she came to me with her heart design for the shirt it just showed me that once again, she?s taking these obstacles and turning them into hope. She drew the left side of the heart whole, and then showed the right side with a scar. Her favorite band is AJR, and we have been so thankful that we?ve been able to take the kids to so many of their concerts. Their message in life aligns a lot with ours. The lyric on the back of the shirt is from one of their new songs. It?s about wishing you could pause time and stay in this moment forever. That?s how I feel. I don?t want to worry about what her future may challenge her with next. I want to live in this moment of joy with her. To be thankful for each day God allows us to live in her light. We make these shirts to spread awareness and to support Evie. We would love for you to join us and proudly wear one of her shirts alongside us. Thank you!!!!