At just seven years old, Evie already knows what it means to be resilient. The eldest of triplets and born with a serious heart condition, she has spent much of her young life in and out of hospital.

A specialised ultrasound at 20 weeks diagnosed her with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a combination of four specific cardiac defects.

“Evie and her sisters were born premature and she had a prolonged hospital stay in the neonatal intensive care unit due to breathing and feeding difficulties,” her mum Karina said.

“When she arrived home almost 12 weeks later she had blue spells, was not feeding and had multiple trips to our local hospital for monitoring.”

At five months old, Evie had open heart surgery to correct her TOF at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, with many complications after the operation. When she returned home,she still needed a feeding tube until after her first birthday.

Evie's experience is part of a national registry led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), aimed at understanding the outcomes and impact of major heart conditions on patients and their families across Australia.

MCRI Heart Group Leader Dr Michael Cheung said Evie would likely need surgery one day to replace a pulmonary valve. It is hoped, MCRI research could one day help improve this treatment for children like Evie.

“MCRI is pioneering stem cell research to bioengineer living, growing pulmonary valves for children with congenital heart disease,” Dr Cheung said. “Led by Dr Holly Voges, this research aims to eliminate the need for multiple open-heart surgeries to replace failing artificial valves.”

BIG W customers making a difference

Despite her difficult start to life, Evie - now seven - is thriving, and this winter she is proudly part of BIG W’s Toy Sale campaign from 9 June to 8 July.

Evie is one of many children receiving hospital treatment who have designed a $2 Heart Token available at checkouts around the country.

Image: Evie’s Heart Token available in BIG W stores to help raise funds for MCRI.

Customers are encouraged to buy and write their name on a token and add it to the Big Hearts Wall in store as a show of love and support for children undergoing treatment and their families.

Also from 22 to 28 June, Tasmanian and Victorian customers who spend over $30 at self-serve checkouts will have the option to round up their shop and donate the difference, with BIG W matching donations* and all proceeds will support MCRI’s children’s heart research. 

BIG W Managing Director Dan Hake said, “Since 1994, the BIG W team and customers have proudly supported children’s hospitals and research institutes across Australia, helping fund the care, treatment and research that helps make a real difference for families.

“This campaign is a simple but powerful way for our customers to show their support for children like Evie and their families, while contributing to important research and brighter futures.”

For Evie, who loves arts and craft, being part of the campaign has been a winter highlight.

Image: Evie with her BIG W Heart Token submission.

“Evie is such a social and creative girl,” Karina said. "She is the most resilient person I know and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her!”

BIG W has supported MCRI’s heart research for the past 20 years, and together with their customers, have raised $3.1 million towards our efforts to help find better treatments.

Learn more about BIG W’s support for children’s hospitals and research institutes and find a store near you to get involved this winter.

Banner image from left: Poppy, Charli and Evie.

*Between 22 and 28 June, BIG W is matching round up donations of up $100,000 nationwide to its state-based charity partners.