Born under a full moon
Evaluna’s name was chosen long before she was born.
Meaning life and moon, it was a name her parents loved from the start.
Then she arrived on Nov. 15, 2024, under a full moon.
For her family, it felt like confirmation they had chosen the perfect name.
But within moments of her birth, what began as a joyful day took an unexpected turn.
Instead of hearing immediate cries, Evaluna struggled to breathe.
She was quickly surrounded by nurses and physicians working to help her take her first breath.
For her mother, time seemed to stand still.
Then Evaluna cried.
And her family finally exhaled.
An unexpected start
Because she was born at St. Joseph Hospital, Evaluna was transferred next door to Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County, formerly known as CHOC, for specialized care.
Almost immediately, she was connected to monitors and equipment designed to help her care team closely track her progress.
In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), specialists from multiple departments became part of her journey.
Neurology.
Cardiology.
Hematology.
Ophthalmology.
And many others.
Test after test helped doctors understand what Evaluna would need moving forward.
One by one, specialists signed off.
She showed no signs of seizure activity.
Her heart was healthy.
But doctors did identify a small brain hemorrhage.
For her parents, the news brought a new wave of questions and concerns.
It also introduced them to an important part of Evaluna’s care: rehabilitation therapy.
Building skills from the beginning
To support Evaluna’s development, her care team recommended feeding therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
For her family, therapy became a way to focus on what was ahead rather than what had happened.
One of Evaluna’s earliest challenges was feeding.
She wasn’t able to safely drink breast milk on her own and needed her milk thickened to help her swallow properly.
For her mother, the feeding challenges were particularly difficult.
“I really wanted to bond with her through breastfeeding,” she says.
Instead, she and Evaluna’s father quickly learned how to prepare breast milk with thickener and carefully follow feeding instructions designed to keep Evaluna safe.
The process required planning and precision. Instructions were posted in Evaluna’s NICU room and later at home to ensure every feeding was prepared correctly. For the first several months of her life, Evaluna drank exclusively from a bottle while her family worked closely with her care team to support her development.
Her parents carefully measured and mixed breast milk with thickener at every feeding.
It wasn’t always easy, but they were committed to doing whatever Evaluna needed.
Even after leaving the NICU, feeding remained an important part of her rehabilitation journey.
Evaluna continued working with speech-language pathologist Jessica Barron, whose patience and encouragement helped her family navigate each milestone.
Meanwhile, physical and occupational therapy became part of everyday life.
Thanksgiving at the hospital
While many families were gathering around holiday tables, Evaluna spent her first Thanksgiving at Rady Children’s.
Her parents and older brother rarely left her side.
Spending the holiday in the hospital was difficult.
Evaluna’s parents took turns caring for her and spending time with her older brother. When her mother briefly attended a family gathering, she found it hard to celebrate while Evaluna remained hospitalized.
“As a mom, you try to be so strong for everyone that sometimes you forget to express your feelings,” she says.
Back at Rady Children’s, nurses encouraged the family to attend a Thanksgiving meal organized for patients and families. Seeing other children and hearing the stories of families facing even longer hospital stays gave them perspective.
“We were grateful we were getting closer to going home,” her mother recalls. “At that moment, we were just eternally grateful that Evaluna was fighting and thriving.”
Together, they celebrated the progress she was making and looked forward to the day she would finally come home.
Two weeks after arriving at Rady Children’s, that day came.
After reviewing her progress, Evaluna’s care team agreed she was ready.
She was going home.
Putting in the work
Leaving the hospital wasn’t the end of Evaluna’s rehabilitation journey. In many ways, it was just the beginning.
At home, she continued using milk thickener until her pediatrician felt she was growing well and eating safely on her own.
She also continued physical and occupational therapy.
Week after week, her family showed up for appointments and therapy sessions.
And week after week, Evaluna continued to make progress.
According to her parents, therapists were consistently impressed by her strength.
She met her milestones.
Then she exceeded some of them.
A graduation worth celebrating
At 15 months old, Evaluna reached another important milestone.
She graduated from therapy.
Her therapists no longer had concerns.
She was meeting her goals.
She was thriving.
For a family that had once worried about what the future might hold, it was a moment worth celebrating.
“We were committed to doing everything we had to in order to help her,” her mother says. “Mom and dad would switch off driving to appointments, and we were lucky to have amazing physical and occupational therapists helping her along the way.”
As therapy sessions became less frequent, Evaluna’s parents saw firsthand how much she had accomplished.
When she officially graduated from therapy, they knew just how much work and determination it had taken to reach that moment.
Living up to her name
Today, at 21 months old, Evaluna is a busy toddler who keeps her family on the move.
She loves playing with her dolls, spending time with her brother, cousins and dog, and singing along with her favorite songs.
She can count to 10 in both English and Spanish.
She communicates with her parents, grandparents, aunts and brother.
She’s eager to begin potty training.
And she continues to grow, ranking in the 90th percentile for weight, height and head circumference.
For her parents, watching Evaluna run, play and learn is a reminder of how far she has come.
“It is a huge blessing to see Evaluna as a healthy, smart and active toddler,” her mother says. “We are so lucky that she overcame every obstacle and worked so hard, alongside her team at Rady Children’s, to get where she is today.”
Even now, her parents occasionally reflect on those first two weeks of life and all that she endured.
“There are times when we still cry because of what she had to go through,” her mother says. “Evaluna continues to be such a blessing to our family.”
The impact of rehabilitation
During Rehab Awareness Week, Evaluna’s story highlights how rehabilitation services can support children and families from the very beginning of life’s challenges.
Through feeding therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy, Evaluna received the tools she needed to build skills, reach milestones and gain confidence as she grew.
Today, she continues to live up to the meaning of her name.
A child born under a full moon.
A little girl whose journey has brought light, strength and joy to everyone around her.
Learn more about CHOC’s rehabilitation services
Using a comprehensive team approach, our physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language pathology specialists work together to provide complete care for children of all ages.
