Lansing Intermediate Student, Eva Garrett, Encapsulates Perseverance Award
Lansing Intermediate School fourth-grader Eva Garrett was recently recognized during our October PRIDE assembly for Perseverance because of her resiliency and bravery while fighting Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are poorly formed or don't work properly.
Thankfully, doctors were able to catch Eva's condition early. "We ended up catching it kind of by accident," said Eva's mom, Melissa. "The Saturday before Easter, she started not feeling well and got really pale and very tired."
Melissa said Eva was sleeping a lot and started running a fever, which went on for about two weeks, so Melissa made a doctor's appointment to try to figure out the cause.
"After I took her to the triage clinic at her doctor's office, they were very concerned about how pale she was. I just casually mentioned that she had been getting bruises on her legs for a while that were big and dark, and we didn't know where she got them."
Based on her symptoms, the doctor ordered blood work and quickly discovered a more serious issue.
"We went home, and the doctor called me that night at 9:30 pm and said I needed to bring her to Children's Mercy now because it looked like she had cancer." Eva was officially diagnosed with MDS on April 20th and was in and out of the hospital over the next two months. Finally, on July 5th, she was able to get a transplant.
Eva's oldest sister, Emma, a senior at Lansing High School, was her donor: "It was kind of a miracle that she was able to do it," said Melissa. "We have a gene that runs in our family that causes immune deficiencies. My mom and sister both have it, and they have to get infusions every three weeks. My niece, who was 20, also had it and eventually passed from a terrible two-year battle. I am a carrier of that gene, and two out of my four girls have the gene. Emma didn't and was actually a 100 % match to Eva, so it was pretty incredible that it worked that way."
Eva was a natural choice for the Lansing Intermediate School Perseverance Award during the October PRIDE Assembly. The elementary and intermediate schools hold the assemblies several times a year. They are a great way to unite our students and celebrate their success with their teachers! It also allows the schools to have fun with everyone and focus on an essential character trait each month: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Excellence.
Eva's teacher, Mrs. Laurie Holden, was proud to give her the award for Perseverance:
"Eva is a homebound learner right now until her doctors clear her to return to school, so it was electric when she was able to come in person to receive the PRIDE award for Perseverance," said Eva's teacher, Mrs. Holden. "Since her diagnosis, bone marrow transplant, and recovery, she has shown remarkable Perseverance, so it was a true honor to see her receive the award. We are looking forward to having her back in class as soon as possible."
Eva's mom said she is doing amazing, and she is hopeful she will be able to return to school in November.
We are incredibly proud to call Eva and her family part of the Lion Pride and are cheering her on as she continues to fight the battle. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.