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Evan was born on November 30, 2001 (at 11:44am). On July 27th, 2004, at the age of 2 and a half, he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain cancer that spreads in the cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain and the spinal cord. Evan's tumor was golf-ball-sized in his 4th ventricle, against the brain stem. There were smaller tumors throughout his brain and down his spinal cord. It was wrapped around the spinal cord, more thick than the doctors have seen in a child so young as Evan. Evan returned to his Heavenly Father's arms on July 4, 2005 (at 11:47pm). He told us months earlier, "Heavenly Father will hug me and Jesus will pick me up!"
July 4th, 2005 is the day Evan's body was freed from pain and suffering. We call it his "Freedom Day". Evan and Jace, best buddies, share this special day because it is also Jace's birthday. Our family goes to Bear Lake every July 4th weekend to spend time together. Evan loves the beach. He loves the sand. We are going to Bear Lake tomorrow, and we will kick some sand for Evan. If you are at a beach this summer, kick some sand for our Evan. We believe he is one of our angels watching over us.
Jared's father wrote this poem while Evan was sick:
In A Minute….
When Evan was in the hospital, and he lay hurting and unsure, many times the nurses and technicians would come in and perform special tasks that became very painful for him. Or, if Grandma Judy would try to get him to eat or to play; he could not. So he devised his own method to avoid the hurt, he would say “In a minute,” then he would turn and say “OK.”
Perhaps in our lifetime here on earth, life is painful and seems to take so long to endure. But in Heaven’s time it may be only a minute. Perhaps when little Evan’s turn came to come to Earth, he turned to Heavenly Father and hesitated, for he knew that his time here would not be easy.
Perhaps……then Heavenly Father said to him,
“In a minute, Evan, in only a minute.”
I’m sure, in the short time he was here that his little spirit touched many lives. Our lives will never be the same because of him. This living tree is here for us to enjoy its beauty, just like Evan was here for us to enjoy his special spirit. As you look at this tree, think of him. Now Evan can be sure, his time on Earth was very short, but it was only a minute, and he has returned…
Chesley Martin
This tree will continue to grow at our little home in Layton. When I look at the drawing of Evan with Jesus, it brings a great deal of comfort to me. I am so grateful that we have the knowledge of the gospel. As Jace told his Kindergarten teacher upon her hearing about Evan, "It's okay. I'll see him again." He said it matter of factly, without a doubt. What a comfort it is to know that he is in the care of his Heavenly Father and Jesus now and we will hug him and be with him again someday.
Thank you so much for visiting this website and sharing our love for our dear Evan.
Journal
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 5:40 PM CDT Evan's Angel Day, or Freedom Day, is approaching it's 3rd time. It's hard to believe 3 years can pass so quickly. I have often longed to feel His Spirit with me so often as I did that year that Evan was sick. I felt it strong and near, as it carried us through so many trials during that year. Last Sunday as I read several articles in the Ensign, enjoying the Spirit that they brought, an idea came to me that I could submit a story of our experiences with Evan to the Ensign. That evening, after the kids were in bed, I sat down with my laptop, and this is what I wrote.
P.S. Evan, we will be at Bear Lake once again, and we will kick that sand!
Jared and I anxiously approached the neurosurgeon who was going to explain our second son, Evan’s MRI scan. He told us that there were several tumors throughout his brain and that the cancer was coating his spinal cord with a thickness that he had never seen in a child so young as two and a half years. Jared asked him what Evan’s chances were.
“Not zero,” was the doctor’s optimistic reply. Jared and I took a walk outside. I couldn’t hold back my tears. When we reached a secluded spot among some trees, we sat down and cried together. How could something like this happen to Evan? What can be done when the doctor himself says that his chances are “not zero”?
In the midst of all the shock, questions, and turmoil of the news we had just heard, I felt a peace and calm that it would be all right. I shared these feelings with Jared. He had the same feelings. The Spirit was there with us, watching over us, loving us, and comforting us. We didn’t know what these feelings meant, but we hoped that it meant our Evan would live through this and be able to fulfill a long and healthy life here on earth.
The following year, Evan experienced numerous surgeries including the removal of a golf ball sized tumor in his brain, 4 shunts, a broviac line (permanent IV), and a gastric tube going into his intestine to aid in his nutrition, since he lost his ability to eat. After attempting chemotherapy, we found that the cancer was continuing to grow. He endured aggressive radiation therapy on his brain and spine every day, for four weeks, with an additional two weeks on his brain. He also took various medicines to ease the continuous nausea and pain.
There were numerous times throughout this year that I felt the Savior’s love indescribably strong, and I knew that Evan, as well as our family, was being watched over by angels. I remember the first surgery that Evan had, when they were removing the tumor in his brain. Jared and I were sitting in the waiting room. I suddenly felt a strong sense that there were angels in the room with Evan, watching over him. What a comfort this was for me!
One evening, during another stay in the hospital, I was alone with a sleeping Evan. I thought of how much I love him as I took his hand. Suddenly I felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and love from my Savior that brought me to tears. In my life, I have never felt His love as strong as I did this moment. The magnitude of His love for us is beyond description.
Six weeks after Evan was diagnosed, I gave birth to our third baby boy. Our family, ward and community did amazing things for our family. How I felt their love for us! We were surrounded by angels, in more than one sense. I knew that many prayers were being said for our family. I could feel it.
It was almost a year later, 2005, that Evan’s spirit left this earth, to be freed from the pain and suffering that he endured during his earthly life. It was also Independence Day and his older brother’s fifth birthday. But it wasn’t until after the fireworks display, after his brothers were in bed, that Evan left his earthly mother and father’s arms to be joined into the arms of many loved ones in the Spirit world.
Since that time, we have been blessed to have another little boy join our family and are now anticipating the arrival of baby number five later this year. Jared is beginning his third year of medical school. The blessings continue to be poured down upon us.
Evan’s older brother, Jace, still remembers playing with him. He misses him a great deal and talks about him often. He knows that he will see him again someday, and he shares this testimony easily.
One early morning before leaving for school, Jace, then 7, asked, “Why did Evan get cancer?” I told him I don’t know. The doctors don’t even know what causes this kind of cancer. I wish we could have all the answers right now, but I guess that would ruin the purpose of our being here. If we could see the big picture, I think we would have a greater understanding of why. I love how President Spencer W. Kimball says it, “…if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put into proper perspective.” For now, I just hold on to my faith and knowledge that He loves us immensely and has a plan for us.
Our family has been so blessed to have the knowledge of this true gospel - that Jesus Christ lives! He is watching over us, and loves us more than we can comprehend. I know that Evan’s spirit still lives, and my family has the assurance that we CAN ALL be together again someday.
I have often thought about that peaceful feeling that Jared and I had, in the beginning of that year, that it would be alright … and you know what? It is!
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Primary Children's Medical Center
100 North Medical Dr
SLC, UT 84113
801-588-2000
Links: http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/viewshare.asp?c=006196676SW47AJN5 Evan,Jace , Lance, and family photo
www.martinfam6.blogspot.com Our Family Blog
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