It All Starts Here!
Our Story
This bundle of joy is Eva, Eva Marie Martin to be exact. Born November 9th, 2019, she along with her brother Lucas are the light of our lives. The two were inseparable from the moment they met. Eva looked up to her big brother for guidance and encouragement as an infant, crawling after him as he slow motion ran through the house to make her feel like she was actually chasing him. Once Eva was able to walk, she quickly began to run and Lucas' slow motion running hurried. As if a herd of elephants were in the house, they would chase each other around and around and up and down. Where Lucas was reserved and cautious, Eva was calculated and independent in order to keep up with her brother. Her independence and determination to do everything her brother did, made her a fierce toddler. A force to be reckoned with, while sweet and innocent to her dad who she knowingly had wrapped around her finger.
On what would normally be an amazing Sunday afternoon, on June 4th, 2023, Eva found her way into the family pool without her floatation device. After being discovered, CPR was performed, and emergency medical technicians rushed her to Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital where emergency physicians and nurses worked tirelessly to save her. After over 45 minutes of CPR the emergency staff was able to revive Eva's heart and stabilize her for transport to the pediatric intensive care unit at Bronson Children's hospital. This is where the story of The Eva Martin Project began.
Becky and I rushed to Kalamazoo from Saint Joseph, but honestly much of the drive is a blur of disbelief and despair. While doctors and nurses stabilized her, we waited in the waiting room for any news, pacing, praying, and hoping. When we were finally brought back to the room to sit with our sweet Eva, the nurse pulled back the curtain; our sweet child lay in bed as if she were just sleeping, but next to her lay two stuffed animals, a parrot, and a multicolored fish (which she certainly would have picked out) and a beautiful purple butterfly blanket that she comfortably lay under. In our rush to get to the hospital Becky and I didn't even think to grab a stuffed animal or blanket that Eva always had wherever she went. To see her laying there with the blanket and the stuffed animals brought us so much comfort that someone took the time to care enough to offer comfort items to our sweet baby. Even though we only came home with that blanket and fish, the amount of comfort we received from seeing her with them meant the world to us.
The Eva Martin Project was created because of that feeling of comfort that we received from seeing her with those stuffed animals. We hope to be able to provide that same comfort that we received to other families who find themselves in a similar situation as us. There may be nothing worse than seeing your child in a hospital bed and all you can do is hold their hand. But we can provide a family and child comfort through the joy and love of stuffed animals because that is what Eva was, joy and love.
Happy Birthday Eva!
The newest edition to The Eva Martin Project has just launched. Check out the limited edition 2024 Eva Birthday Shirt. Thank you for all your continued love and support.