Eibhlin Ewald

Eibhlin was born in Indiana on January 12, 2001, the youngest of five children and the only girl in the family. A few months later, we moved to Minnesota where she lived until 2008. During the years we lived in Minnesota, Eibhlin attended preschool where she made many friends (and so did her parents!) before attending Ying Hua elementary school. During her two years at Ying Hua, Eibhlin was immersed in Mandarin, acquiring language skills that she maintained until her death. When the family moved to Indiana in July, 2008, Eibhlin attended The Orchard School, from second to eighth grades. Eibhlin made many friends during her time at Orchard, and they were people who she cared about and loved. The Orchard community was particularly kind and supportive after Eibhlin's AML diagnosis in the summer of 2015, shortly after she graduated from Orchard. Eibhlin was initially treated at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis before moving to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Eibhlin was a strong, determined young woman who fought valiantly and endured months of living in isolation due to her compromised immune system. The community of friends, family, and the caring, kind hospital staff surrounded her with love as she underwent a bone marrow transplant using marrow donated from an anonymous stranger. Eibhlin was a teller of bad jokes (about blondes in particular), a good friend, and a fierce defender of what was right. She was funny, brave, and kind -- and she was deeply loved by her brothers and her parents. She was beautiful, inside and out.