20 Oct The Evans Family
The Calm During the Storm: How the Evans Family Found Comfort and Strength at Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor
When Paige, Nick and big brother Coleman Evans welcomed Theodore into the world, they knew their journey into parenthood wouldn’t follow the usual path. Born with a complex congenital heart defect, tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, Theo’s medical journey began immediately. In his first month of life, he underwent three stent placements. A major surgery in August led to the discovery of complications that required a full aortic arch reconstruction and a Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt. After three long months in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCTU), a successful second repair was completed that November.
But Theo’s challenges didn’t end in the operating room. Persistent respiratory issues led to several readmissions, including one frightening, hypothermic episode that called for urgent consultations and treatment. Later, a rare genetic diagnosis, Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, shed more light on his complex medical picture. Theo is one of just three known cases at the University of Michigan. The diagnosis brought clarity, but also a new set of uncertainties, outpatient visits, and therapies.
Amid all this, the Evans family found one place that felt steady, safe, and close to hope: Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor (RMHCAA).
A Home When It Was Needed Most
Over the course of Theodore’s treatment, the Evans family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House for 156 nights. During some of Theodore’s most critical moments, their room at RMHCAA even faced his hospital room at Mott Children’s Hospital. Paige remembers one simple act that helped her feel close to her son:
“I bought us each a rechargeable lamp,” she said. “We put one in Theo’s hospital window and one in our window at the House. Every night, we’d turn them on so we could see each other’s light across the street. If one of us were bedside with Theo, it was a special way to say ‘goodnight’ to our other son, Coleman. Even when we couldn’t be together, we knew we weren’t apart.”
Those two small lights became a beacon of hope, like a lighthouse shining through the storm. They reminded the family that no matter how difficult their journey became; their love and connection would guide them through.
That deep connection, the ability to be physically and emotionally present, was made possible by the proximity of RMHCAA. “The location can’t be overstated,” Paige emphasized. “If we needed to, we could run from our room at the House and be at Theo’s bedside in minutes. That peace of mind was everything.”
Comfort, Stability, and a Sense of Normal
At a time when nothing felt normal, the House offered exactly that – comfort, routine, and a touch of home. Paige recalled the value of being able to care for basic needs: “Caring for yourself is hard when your child is critically ill. But at the House, we could take showers, eat meals, get a moment to rest. That gave us the ability to be more present with Theodore.”
Their older son, Coleman, was just two years old during much of Theo’s hospital journey. The RMHCAA sibling programs made an enormous impact.
“The team’s programming meant the world to him,” said Paige. “He got to be a normal toddler doing arts and crafts, playing, just being a kid. That kind of joy and consistency is priceless.”
The family also benefited from free passes to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum through RMHCAA, and Coleman attended the Stoneybrook daycare at no cost, another vital support that helped the family financially and emotionally.
Community and Connection in the Hardest Moments
Beyond the tangible comforts, Paige found something else at the House: understanding.
“You’re surrounded by people who are also facing hard things. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. That sense of shared experience helps normalize what you’re going through and is incredibly comforting.”
Paige often describes RMHCAA as the calm during the storm. “The House meant everything to our family,” she said. “When everything else was chaos, it gave us stability, community, and the strength to keep going.”
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
Today, Theodore is a joyful, affectionate child. While his condition may require another surgery in the coming years, the Evans family is focused on creating the best possible environment for both their boys.
Paige has become active in the Wiedemann-Steiner Foundation, joining the Leadership Council and helping raise funds for research. On Theo’s first birthday, instead of gifts, they collected donations for Ronald McDonald House. It’s their way of paying it forward.
“We’re so grateful for our time at the House,” said Paige. “We’ll never forget what it gave us, and we’ll keep finding ways to give back.”