Finding Comfort in Heartbeats: How Parents' Loss Sparked a Movement of Hope

Posted On: February 5, 2026

Volusia County's entire Accounting Division has rallied around Tiffany Alvarez following the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Evie, in 2023.

When 9-year-old Jennavieve "Evie" Alvarez was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and terminal brain cancer, in January 2023, her parents' world changed forever. Now, grieving Volusia County employees Tiffany and Jorge Alvarez have transformed their devastating loss into a touching initiative that's bringing comfort to families worldwide – Evie's Heartbeeps.

Tiffany is a Senior Accountant in the Accounting Division, and Jorge is an EMT for Emergency Medical Services. Evie's grandfather, Joe Spiller, is a Civil Engineer II with Public Works.

Before her passing on April 27, 2023, Evie embodied childhood joy. She was a dedicated Girl Scout, gymnast, and movie buff who could quote films to make everyone laugh.

"She was so brave and strong and kept her silliness and sense of humor through it all," Tiffany recalled. "During her last hospital visit, right after her second brain surgery, she was telling jokes. When her surgeon came in to check on her, she told him her original joke: 'Where did the chicken go when he died? Chick-fil-A!' He laughed and said, 'You're THAT girl? My nurses have been sharing that joke with everyone!'"

Evie's compassion matched her courage. "Early in her diagnosis, she caught me crying," Tiffany said through quiet tears. "I remember it like it was yesterday – where we were, what she was wearing, how she felt in my arms as she looked at my face and said, 'Don't cry, Mommy. I'll be okay.' Even when her body was failing her, she still comforted others. She was an amazing child and my favorite person in the whole world."

A Legacy of Love

Evie's vibrant spirit touched everyone around her, and though she left this world far too early, her legacy continues through a unique partnership between Bond Touch, the company that makes heartbeat necklaces, and the foundation her parents founded.

The inspiration came from another mother's story. "I first learned of Bond Touch from my dear friend Erin," Tiffany shared. "Her daughter Hadley, age 7, was diagnosed with DMG, also a terminal brain cancer, in the same month as Evie and sadly passed less than seven months later. When we finally met in person, Erin showed me her Bond Heart necklace and shared how much it means to have her beautiful daughter's heartbeat with her forever."

Tiffany knew instantly she wanted to provide that source of comfort for other parents. She and Jorge founded Evie's Heartbeeps, a nonprofit dedicated to providing heartbeat necklaces to families of children with terminal brain cancer. Recipients record their loved one's heartbeat on an app and can feel it pulsate through the necklace. They will have something tangible they can hold onto forever.

To date, they've provided 70 necklaces to families across the globe including England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Australia.

County Family Support

Tiffany and Jorge are making this impact with tremendous help from their friends in the Accounting Division. For the past two years, Administrative Specialist Patti McLauchlin has spearheaded fundraising efforts within the division that have raised more than $1,500. Staff members sell snacks, conduct silent auctions with donated items, pay $5 for denim days, and once provided joke horoscopes for a quarter. Every dollar helps and goes toward purchasing and mailing necklaces to grieving families.

"The whole county has been so supportive of us, and we're very grateful," Tiffany said.

Evie's Winks

Evie's spirit remains with her parents through what Tiffany calls "Evie's Winks." When the Accounting Division released 100 butterflies in her memory, one lingered with Tiffany and Jorge (see photo at left). At the beach, Evie’s favorite place, Tiffany asked Evie to make dolphins appear – and she did. A month after she passed, Tiffany discovered a secret voice recording from Evie on her phone. The clip was Evie singing “…I love you still and you know I always will, til the end of time...I’ll be there, I will never disappear, said forever I’ll stay and I will always be there.”

"These are not coincidences," Tiffany said. "Evie is still with us."

To learn more about Evie's Heartbeeps, check out Tiffany Alvarez’s Facebook page, Evie’s Heartbeeps, Inc.