Evie Green, a young girl from Middlesbrough, has been waiting for a heart transplant for a year after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. The four-year-old was hospitalized after a virus left her breathless, and medication stopped working at the beginning of 2023. Evie’s mother, Chloe Green, expressed the rollercoaster of emotions that the family has experienced during this waiting period. While the NHS quotes 88 days for an urgent heart transplant, the outdated estimate and the constant fear of new infections have caused significant stress for the family. Evie’s condition remains stable for now, but the need for a heart transplant is urgent to secure her long-term survival.
Evie’s journey began in October 2019 when she was initially diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite occasional breathlessness and urinary incontinence, she was able to recover until she tested positive for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in January 2023. This infection, with symptoms similar to a cold, proved to be serious for Evie, leading to the need for an emergency ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation at Freemans Hospital. Although Evie experienced a cardiac arrest during the operation, surgeons were able to stabilize her. Since then, Evie has remained in the hospital, including for her birthday and Christmas, as her family splits their time between caring for her and attending work.
The Green family remains hopeful that a suitable donor will be found for Evie. They understand that the wait may be long and uncertain, as a compatible heart must be found for their daughter. Chloe Green emphasized the importance of staying positive during this challenging period and expressed her happiness as long as Evie is content. The family’s support and hope are crucial as they continue to wait for a life-saving heart transplant for their beloved daughter.
