Every Drop Has a Story, Evelyn Burkhardt

Sgt. Sean Higgins and Evelyn

Back in 2018, Unyts (now ConnectLife) held an annual kick-off for the Holiday Heroes campaign today with Oishei Children's Hospital (now Golisano Children’s Hospital) and the Erie County Sheriff's Office. At the beginning of the event, we arranged a meeting between a blood donor and blood recipient.

Sgt. Sean Higgins of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, a long-time blood donor with Unyts, was able to meet a little girl named Evelyn who recently had received his blood donations. His donations helped save her life.

Four-month-old Evelyn was born at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital with Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia. She had undergone several surgeries and received numerous blood transfusions during her stay in the hospital. Sgt. Higgins’ blood donations to Unyts helped to save Evelyn’s life. Her family was so grateful to be able to thank Sgt. Higgins for the generous gift he gave.

Fast forward to 2026, Evelyn is now 8 years old and thriving! Over the years she has had 26 surgical procedures but is a happy, healthy young girl. Her family credits the doctors and blood donors for saving her life and says she would not be here today without them.

Evelyn is 8 years old and thriving

Thank you to Evelyn's family for sharing her story. Has their story inspired you to share your own? Submit your story to be our next hero highlighted as our Every Drop Has a Story: https://www.connectlife.org/everydrop

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