One of the things that attracted Melissa Evans to work at the Riverside Convalescent Center in Mathews, Va. was the facility’s mission, which was: “to care for others as you would care for those you love.”
“Over the years, I observed the level of care that was provided to an acquaintance’s grandmother at the nursing home, and I was impressed with what I saw,” she says. “I also noticed that the nursing home had a huge presence in the town of Mathews. The Riverside team even posted regularly on the town’s Facebook page.”
“After spending a career working at other jobs that didn’t offer the level of community and caring that I desired, I took a leap and made a change. In April 2021, I accepted a position at the Riverside Convalescent Center as the Licensed Nursing Home Facility Administrator of Health and Aging (LLH).
“I always believed that the facility was special, but I honestly had no conception of just how special a place it truly is,” she notes. “Time and events have only deepened my dedication.”
Logan Is ‘My Reason.’ What’s Yours?
One of the first things Melissa did when she started at the nursing home was post a photo of her 9-year-old son Logan on her office door. Underneath Logan’s picture, she wrote: “My Reason. What’s Yours?”
Melissa’s team quickly joined in the spirit and posted their own “Reasons” on a “Brag Board” that Melissa created. The response was heartwarming, and within days, the team had added their family photos and stories and bonded with a true sense of community.
“I honestly felt that my new job was a dream come true. Here I was, a part of this wonderful facility, centered around community and the care of our residents. It was really an all-enveloping atmosphere that went beyond the loving care we provided. We felt more like family than a facility,” she says.
This feeling of love and community carried Melissa through one of the greatest trials in her life. Little did Melissa know that her life was about to change dramatically.
Holiday Gathering
On the evening of Tuesday, December 14th, Melissa gathered with her Riverside team for a holiday dinner. Melissa had some qualms about going ahead with the dinner because Logan hadn’t been feeling well. But he appeared to be recovering, and so he stayed home with his dad, Jason Evans, an IT professional.
When Melissa returned home, however, she noticed that Logan had taken a turn for the worse. “He was sleeping peacefully, but he wasn’t looking good to me, so just to be safe, I took him to the emergency room,” she says. “From that point, everything turned into a nightmare. The doctors told me that if I had let him sleep and not sought care, he would have died.”
The doctors at the emergency room noted that Logan’s blood sugar was 7 (100 is normal). The situation was dire, and Logan was rushed to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center’s Hospital in Richmond. There, he was diagnosed with liver failure and in need of a liver transplant. His other organs were showing signs of failing as well.
Twelve hours later, Logan was helicoptered in critical condition to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., one of the largest liver transplant centers in the region.
He was put on a ventilator while awaiting a liver transplant. His liver started to improve, and he was taken off the ventilator on Christmas day. However, at 2:30 a.m. on Christmas night, Logan went into cardiac arrest. CPR was performed, and he was put back on the ventilator.
Melissa received a phone call and rushed to the hospital. When she arrived, there was a nun sitting at his bedside. Logan’s condition was critical, and he was not expected to live.
From there, Logan was transferred to yet another hospital--Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was placed in the Pediatric Cardiac Unit (ICU) while awaiting heart surgery. He was operated on and had an Internal Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) implanted to regulate and monitor his heart rate,” Melissa revealed. The implanted ICD allowed the hospital to monitor Logan’s heart at a distance, through remote technology.
The Evans Family’s Riverside Support Team
“All during this terrible trial, the Riverside team was there to support me,” stresses Melissa. “The level of caring from my colleagues and the community was intense. People came forth and donated their personal leave time, sent food cards, showered Logan with gifts, started prayer chains, and let me know in a thousand ways that they were there for me.”
“It was a steady outpouring of love and prayers. In addition, Riverside’s senior management team helped me by bringing aboard an Interim Administrator of Health and Aging (LLH) to support me while I was dealing with my crisis.”
“It made me feel, more than ever, that my connection to the Riverside team feels more like I am part of a loving family than simply an employee at a facility,” she adds. “All during my trial with Logan’s illness, the team has been compassionate and empathetic. They are so valued and appreciated by Logan, my husband, and me!"
“One of the things that touched me the deepest was the community birthday card drive. On Logan’s birthday on January 20, when Logan turned 10, he received three cases of birthday cards from the Riverside community and the Mathews Community,” she notes.
“Most of the staff never met Logan, and yet they had outpouring of love for him. The birthday card drive was coordinated by Activity Director Richard Miles and Jennifer Smith, CNA. Not only did the staff and residents participate (they made the cutest homemade cards!), but the whole community of Mathews did as well. In fact, my parents ran into a Mathews community member last week who was 90 years old. She had never met Logan, yet she had sent a card. Such amazing love and care from our facility and community!”
A New Year’s Miracle: Logan’s Liver Begins to Heal Itself
Eleven days after his admission to Children’s National Hospital, it was determined that Logan’s liver was healing itself and that he was no longer in need of a transplant. He was removed from the transplant list and released from the hospital on January 15th, to the joy of his family and the community.
Logan still has a long road to recovery. He is now in physical and occupational therapy and is learning to walk again after the trauma his body went through with the cardiac arrest.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the Evans family is feeling truly blessed and hopeful. Logan is doing well, is still looking through all his birthday greetings, and is looking forward to getting back to school.
Melissa is feeling blessed for the outpouring of love, prayers, support, and good wishes. “This community has been my source of hope and healing, she says. “I am forever grateful. If anyone is looking for a community where the people are compassionate, supportive, and generous of spirit, look no further than Mathews, Va., and the Riverside Convalescent Center.”
