Evan’s Recovery and Return Home

Please see the below information from Evan’s brother, Adam. We’ll continue to share updates here as we have them. Thanks for your love and support.

While swimming in the ocean in Puerto Vallarta, Evan was struck by a wave which caused him to tumble head-first into the seafloor. As a result, Evan suffered two shattered vertebrae in his neck. He was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the local hospital in Puerto Vallarta.

Evan underwent a critical 11-hour surgery on both the front and the back of his neck to remove the many broken bones and otherwise decompress and stabilize his spinal cord. Evan is expected to stay in the ICU for at least a week following the surgery with a 70% chance of survival. Knowing Evan, he will make it through.

His parents, Earl and Mary, and brothers, Adam and Aaron, have all flown down to be with Evan and are able to visit him twice daily. Although his surgery was a success, Evan suffered severe blood loss and had swelling around his spinal cord which continues to threaten his life.

The next hurdle is to remove the intubation tube and see if Evan can breathe on his own. Once Evan is stable, he will be transferred from the ICU to a regular hospital room for ongoing treatment and the beginning of physical therapy. The doctors do not expect Evan to leave the hospital for the foreseeable future. As soon as possible, the family will arrange to have Evan transferred to a hospital in the United States.

As for long-term prognosis, Evan is not expected to walk again. However, he is showing limited ability to raise his arms. The doctors and family have faith that, with years of physical therapy, Evan will be able to use his arms and maybe his hands again. Luckily, Evan has not sustained any brain injury and should be able to speak without issue.

This GoFundMe is set up for us as a community to help Evan and his family. The costs have already been significant given the special nature of the injury, the time in the ICU, and the intensive 11-hour surgery. These costs will only continue to rise as Evan starts his recovery. Any contributions will be directed towards getting Evan home (which insurance will not cover) and his ongoing lifelong medical bills and physical therapy.