DUBLIN — A barbecue plate sale fundraiser has been set for Saturday, Aug. 22, for Baby Eva called “Help Us Mend Eva’s Broken Heart” for 5-month-old Eva Claire Pait.

The event will take place starting at 11 a.m. at the Center Roads Baptist Church Community Building. Cost is $8 per plate and all proceeds go to Baby Eva’s parents Kimmi and Jason Pait of Southport to help with medical expenses.

Plates will consist of barbecue prepared by Eva’s father Jason Pait, who grew up in Bladenboro, according to Gloria Dove Allen.

Eva was born on March 2 with a congenital heart defect, according to Allen, who is Eva’s aunt. According to the family’s GoFundMe page, it was learned at her mother’s 18-week ultra sound that Eva suffered from Tricuspid Atresia meaning she was going to be born without the right side of her heart. According to the GoFundMe site, the medical expenses began shortly after her diagnosis with echocardiograms and multiple ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s growth.

The youngster has had two surgeries already — one when she was only a month old and the second at 4 months old.

“Right now, she is recovering nicely from the second surgery. We are hoping she will be 2 years old before she gets her next surgery,” said Allen. “We call her Eva the Diva because she’s so tough.”

She added that Kimmi Pait has had to give up her job in order to care for Eva. Allen said that Jason Pait is still working at Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport.

“They live over three hours from Duke’s Pediatric Cardiac Program, where she is receiving her care. Even with some insurance, the financial burden on the family has been tremendous and will continue,” said Allen.

Eva is the granddaughter of Sylvia and Dennis Pait and Jackie and Rufus Watson; and niece of Gloria Dove and Richard Allen, Teresa and Harold Hester, and Robert Britt.

“The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers for Eva and her family,” said Allen.

Donations can be mailed to Center Road Baptist Church. Make checks payable to Center Road Baptist Church and in the memo line put “Eva,” then mail them to 2484 Center Road, Bladenboro, N.C. 28320.

Erin Smith can be reached at 910-862-4163.

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By Erin Smith

erinsmith@civitasmedia.com