Born with stage four chronic kidney disease as a result of hypoplasia – the failure of an organ to develop fully – it was inevitable that a kidney transplant would be in Evan’s future. Shortly after Christmas 2012, Evan’s health battle took a turn for the worse, and he began hemodialysis. Three times a week, for four hours each time, Evan and his family visited the hospital where he would sit in a crib as a machine filtered his blood and removed the toxins from his body.

Finally, at two years old, Evan was big enough to receive a kidney from his mom, Melissa. “I was able to give my son the gift of life twice,” says Melissa, “and live he does! Evan brings joy to everyone he meets.”