EvvuTogether on the road to recovery

Evvu’s recovery journey

Evvu naeratamas.

On 7 August, Evvu suffered severe injuries to both hands in an accident at work. A long operation is now behind her, and a long recovery lies ahead. With Evvu’s consent, this page brings together information about her recovery and the support she may need.

Support Evvu on 4fundRead Evvu’s storyHow can I help?
NEW

Hands are free, recovery continues millimetre by millimetre ❤️

After the wires were removed and the casts came off, some fingers are already moving a little better, but Evvu still needs a great deal of help and rehabilitation in everyday life.

Read the latest update

Evvu’s story

Who is Evvu?

This is Evelin. Her loved ones call her Evvu, and at her own request we will use the name Evvu on this page from here on.

Evvu is independent, strong-willed and quick-witted, and she is used to managing on her own. She is practical, direct and quick to look for solutions. If something can be done more conveniently, better or a little more cleverly, she is likely to find a way.

Her humour is teasing, dark, a little absurd and quite direct. It has not disappeared after the serious accident at work. In hospital, she has still been able to joke about her ‘metal’ and ‘jelly’ hands, and about how getting out of bed might eventually give her a six-pack.

Evvu is a mother of two, and her children are the most important people in her life. She wants to return home to them, but she has also been very clear that she does not want her children to become her carers. She wants to be with them, not place on them a responsibility that must remain with adults and, where needed, professional support.

Home life matters to her. There is a dog, two cats, a garden and almost always an idea for making the home better, more beautiful or more comfortable. She enjoys making things, home projects and the feeling that she can improve something herself.

She loves volleyball practice and is genuinely sorry that she cannot take part right now. Being active, spending time with friends and her children, and of course coffee, matter just as much to her.

The accident at work changed a great deal in a single moment, but it did not change who Evvu is. She is still strong, funny, independent and used to making her own decisions about her life.

Now she faces a completely new and unfamiliar challenge: learning, for a while, to accept help from other people.

What happened?

It was the evening of Friday, 7 August. There was about an hour left in the working day when a serious accident happened at work – both of Evvu’s hands were caught in a machine and severely injured.

An ambulance took Evvu to hospital. The first examinations revealed the extent of the injuries: five fracture sites were identified in each hand. Several fractures were displaced, and some involved multiple fragments.

Days in hospital, further examinations and preparations for surgery followed. On 11 August, Evvu underwent surgery. She says it lasted about ten hours. Several fractures were fixed with metal wires or pins, and plates and screws were also used in the right hand. In the post-operative X-ray report, the fractures that had been fixed were no longer described as displaced.

But the operation was only the beginning of the recovery process.

Both hands are currently firmly supported, and Evvu needs help from other people with many completely ordinary daily activities. She is used to managing on her own, so accepting help is a new and unfamiliar situation for her.

Evvu says the doctors have told her that a very long recovery lies ahead. It is not yet known how much movement and strength will return to her hands, or how they will function in daily life. The next stages of treatment and rehabilitation will become clearer at follow-up appointments. It is also not yet possible to say how much support Evvu will need along the way.

For now, we are taking one step at a time.

How can I help?

How can I help?

It is not yet fully clear what help Evvu will need at home. Because both hands are injured at the same time, she may need support with everyday activities, household tasks, journeys and later rehabilitation.

She may not need every form of support listed here. Her exact needs will become clearer during recovery.

  1. Everyday support

    Eating, dressing, washing and other activities that are difficult with two injured hands.

  2. Rehabilitation

    Hand therapy, physiotherapy and any other treatment recommended by the doctors.

  3. Transport

    Journeys to hospital, check-ups and rehabilitation.

  4. Home

    Cleaning, preparing meals and other household tasks.

  5. Family and daily life

    Help with organising family life and necessary journeys.

  6. Animals

    Feeding and walking the dog, feeding the cats and other practical help.

  7. Garden

    Tasks that Evvu will not be able to do herself for a while.

  8. Assistive equipment

    Items that help her remain as independent as possible.

Support Evvu on 4fundOffer practical help

Support

Support Evvu’s recovery

Evvu’s recovery fundraiser is now open on 4fund. Funds raised will be used according to actual needs to cover home and personal assistance, rehabilitation, transport, assistive equipment and other recovery-related costs.

Where possible, local-authority services, insurance and other existing forms of support will be used first.

The 4fund campaign is openGoal€30,000

The organiser is Evelin Tamm, known as Evvu. Her 4fund profile is verified, and the latest campaign total is shown on 4fund.

The 4fund account of the campaign organiser, Evelin Tamm, has passed an identity check. An identity check alone does not mean that 4fund has verified the campaign’s health information or future costs.

Support Evvu on 4fund

For companies

Can your company help?

Support does not have to be financial. Once the needs are clearer, services or products may also be useful — for example home care, cleaning, transport, rehabilitation, food, help with animals or assistive equipment.

If you would like to offer a service, product or other practical help, email us. We will clarify the need and a suitable time before making any arrangements.

I would like to help as a company
  • Services
  • Transport
  • Products
  • Discounts
  • Other practical support

Recovery journey

How is Evvu doing?

  1. In hospital on the evening of 7 August after the accident at work.

    The evening of the accident in hospital

    After the accident at work, Evvu was taken to hospital. The photo was taken that same evening.

  2. Operation

    Evvu underwent a long operation in which several fractures in both hands were fixed. She remained in hospital afterwards to recover.

    According to Evvu, the operation lasted about 10 hours.

  3. In hospital on 12 August, the day after the operation.

    The day after the operation

    The day after the operation, Evvu was still recovering in hospital.

  4. In hospital on the evening of 14 August — the burger was eaten as a team effort.

    When you are reaaaaally hungry

    With both hands injured, dinner was a team effort. The burger did not go uneaten.

    Evvu: “When you are reaaaaally hungry — grab a Hesburger!”

  5. The pain made sleep difficult

    According to Evvu, she slept poorly during the night because the pain in her hands was bothering her.

  6. Dressing change and preparing to go home

    Evvu’s dressings were changed. Following the dressing change on 18 August, her left hand is fully supported in a cast. Evvu says that several fractures in that hand were not fixed during surgery and now need to heal with the support of the cast. On her right hand, two fingers were left outside the support. According to Evvu, the corresponding metacarpal fractures were fixed with plates and screws during surgery. This does not yet mean that she can move the fingers freely—a hand therapist will guide her step by step on when and what movements she may begin. Based on the information available now, Evvu is expected to leave hospital and go home around midday on 19 August.

    For now, patience is needed while her hands are given time to heal. One step at a time. ❤️

  7. Home. Her hands are still under repair, but Evvu is still Evvu. 😁

    The first days at home ❤️

    Evvu finally came home from hospital on 19 August. Her first day at home was not exactly a “walk through the door and life carries on” moment: she felt unwell, had a headache and, in her own words, felt as though she had been run over.

    By 20 August she was feeling a little better, although she was still very tired. As the photo shows, her smile is still very much there. 😁

    Both hands remain firmly immobilised. Evvu can slightly move a few fingers left free from the supports, but she cannot currently use her hands for everyday activities.

    A dressing change and a home visit from a representative of the local authority are planned for 21 August to assess what help Evvu actually needs at home. Her next medical appointments have also been arranged. The plan for further treatment and rehabilitation will become clearer after the doctors’ assessment.

    It is still not known how much movement or strength will return to her hands, or how long recovery will take. The coming weeks and months will tell.

    One very important step has nevertheless been taken – Evvu is home. ❤️

    One step at a time. Together with Evvu.

    Evvu: “I have been a big coffee lover all my life, so for now I have to enjoy it through a straw. ☕️😅 It is not quite the same, but a little, a little, a little more… and then maybe I will be able to lift my coffee cup by myself again. ❤️”

    Coffee break through a straw. ☕️😅
  8. A homemade handle helps Evvu practise eating independently.

    Home life is gradually settling into place ❤️

    Since coming home, Evvu’s days have been quite different. Some are harder, while others are already a little better. She has slept reasonably well for the past two nights, and she also needs plenty of sleep during the day.

    Evvu: “Not every day is the same. Things are getting better and better… or well, they have to.” 😁

    She needs to keep her hands elevated much of the time to keep swelling as low as possible. This has brought a new side effect of its own: her elbows are beginning to hurt from staying in the same position.

    Evvu: “One problem leads to another.” 😅

    Meanwhile, there have been the first small but genuine victories. Since no suitable eating aid could be found in a shop, Madis made Evvu a handle to which a piece of cutlery can be attached. A similar solution was made for her toothbrush. Evvu can now practise eating and brushing her teeth independently.

    On 21 August, Evvu went for another dressing change. The care team said the wounds looked good, although seeing them did not make Evvu feel particularly well that day. 😅

    Today, 25 August, came the next step: the stitches were removed. This time the procedure went much more calmly and she did not feel unwell.

    Representatives of the local authority also visited Evvu today to assess what help she may actually need at home. A more detailed plan will be agreed next. They also discussed possible help with transport so that Evvu can attend medical and treatment appointments in town.

    Evvu is learning a little more each day about how to manage in her new situation. Some solutions come from her doctors, some from the local authority, and some simply have to be invented.

    Every small thing she can do by herself again is a step towards greater independence. ❤️

    One step at a time. Together with Evvu.

    The healing of the hand is monitored step by step during dressing changes.
  9. Evvu’s current everyday home outfit. 🤣

    Right now, even millimetres matter ❤️

    A little over a week has passed since the last update, and a new rhythm is taking shape in Evvu’s days. A carer comes in the mornings to help make coffee and breakfast, keep the household in order and assist with the everyday tasks Evvu cannot currently manage by herself.

    But support is not only about cleaning or preparing food.

    Evvu: “She also supports me emotionally – she is someone I can talk to.”

    Recovery in Evvu’s hands is now progressing quite literally millimetre by millimetre. She has to do hand therapy several times a day and also sees a hand therapist once a week. The two fingers that are no longer covered by the dressings are already moving better, but the others are still difficult.

    Evvu: “I try as hard as I can, but you look at your fingers and they simply do not move. Not yet.”

    Pain is still part of every day, and Evvu takes painkillers. It also makes sleeping difficult at night. The swelling varies from day to day – sometimes her hands swell so much that the pressure beneath the dressings becomes intense and the dressings have to be loosened.

    For the next three months, her hands must not be subjected to heavy physical strain or used to lift anything heavy. According to the guidance from hand therapy, a coffee cup is essentially the maximum weight for now. Evvu can lift an empty cup a little with both hands, but she cannot yet carry her coffee out to the terrace by herself. ☕😁

    At the same time, compared with last week, there have already been several small but very real victories. Eating with a fork and brushing her teeth are getting easier, and Evvu can already manage some items of clothing herself. A cord attached to a zip can be gripped with the cast, allowing her to open and close it independently.

    What frustrates her most at the moment is one very ordinary thing:

    Evvu: “I still cannot attach a normal fork to my hand by myself. And when someone calls, I cannot hold the phone to my ear. 🤣”

    One of the biggest small victories of the past week came from an unexpected place: the medicine box.

    Evvu: “I managed to get the tablets out of the medicine box myself and, using my teeth and hands, even out of the packaging. 😁 It takes quite a long time, but I managed it in the end.”

    Home care also requires a considerable amount of dressings and other supplies. One recent purchase cost about €90, and many more of these materials will be needed during recovery. Evvu has also asked the local authority about the possibility of home nursing care.

    The next major stage is expected next week, when the wires inserted into her hands during surgery are scheduled to be removed.

    Fortunately, Evvu’s sense of humour has not disappeared through any of this.

    Evvu: “Unfortunately, I do not look ill – I still try to stay positive. 😆”

    For now, recovery is not measured in big steps. Sometimes progress is a few millimetres of finger movement, a zip closed independently or a tablet she finally manages to remove from its packaging herself.

    But it is precisely these small things that are beginning to bring independence back. ❤️

    One step at a time. Together with Evvu.

    When writing in the usual way is not possible, another way has to be found. 😁
  10. 18 September – the wires had been removed and her hands were finally free of the casts. 🙌
    Her hands are free, but recovery and exercise continue. ❤️

    Hands are free, recovery continues millimetre by millimetre ❤️

    On 18 September, a long-awaited moment finally arrived – the wires were removed and I was finally free of the casts too! 🙌

    It felt like a major victory. My hands were finally free, but I still could not do much with them. They were very weak and painful and still needed time, recovery and exercise.

    Now, a couple of weeks later, things have improved a little, but the road to recovery is still long.

    Some fingers on one hand now move somewhat better. The fingers that had wires in them are gradually beginning to move more, and there is a little more movement in my thumb too. By now, for example, I can grip a sheet of paper and type on my phone for a while using a touchscreen stylus.

    However, I still cannot manage everyday tasks by myself. Getting dressed, preparing food and many other completely ordinary activities are not yet possible.

    My hands are still very painful. At times they become stiff and ache, and the backs of my hands are extremely tender. Because of the pain, I need to take painkillers and also sleeping medication in the evenings so that I can sleep at night.

    I still need a great deal of help in everyday life. At present, a support worker helps me with cleaning, dusting, laundry and other household tasks that I cannot manage myself. Cooking is not part of her duties, however – she can reheat food that has already been prepared for me.

    As a result, preparing food currently falls largely on my older son, alongside his own schoolwork and studies. ❤️

    They are still looking for a personal assistant for me who could come in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening when needed, mainly to help with preparing food and other everyday tasks.

    For my recovery, I continue to see a hand therapist, or occupational therapist, as well as a physiotherapist. We are still waiting for information from the rehabilitation doctor. Another question is whether I could receive more intensive rehabilitation – for example, attend rehabilitation sessions on site every day for a period of time, so that I can regain as much movement and strength in my hands as possible.

    So for now, progress is still measured in millimetres rather than big steps. But every finger that moves even a little more is already progress for me. ❤️

    More than anything, I am waiting for the day when I can once again do completely ordinary things by myself – get dressed, prepare food and simply use my hands without having to think about every movement.

    1 October – progress is still measured in millimetres, but every finger that moves a little more matters. ❤️

Transparency

Where will the support go?

The idea is simple: first, we will find out what can be covered by existing services, benefits, insurance and other support. Donations will help cover the recovery and daily-life needs that remain after those options.

  1. Existing options

    Local-authority services, insurance and other support already available will be identified first.

  2. The actual uncovered need

    The fundraising target will only consist of costs that remain uncovered after the other options.

  3. Support for real costs

    The support raised will be used for costs related to Evvu’s recovery and daily life that remain uncovered by other forms of help.

During the campaign, we will explain in plain language what the support is used for.

Contact

Contact 4EVVU

Write to us about supporting Evvu’s recovery, practical help, partnership offers or the website.

Email 4EVVUevelin@4evvu.com

Evvu can see messages sent to this address and reply to them herself. At her request, Reio helps organise the practical side of the website and support.

FAQ

Questions and answers

How can I support Evvu financially?

You can support Evvu on 4fund. The campaign target is €30,000, and the latest total is shown on the 4fund page.

What will the support be used for?

For actual costs related to Evvu’s recovery and daily life that remain uncovered by public services, insurance and other existing support. The exact allocation will become clearer together with her actual needs.

Does 4fund charge a fee?

4fund does not charge a mandatory fee. Its payment page may add a voluntary contribution to 4fund by default; you can change it or set it to zero before paying.

Can I help without donating money?

Yes. Support can also be a service, a product or practical help. If you or your company can offer something, please contact us.

Who is organising the fundraising campaign?

The 4fund organiser is Evelin Tamm, known as Evvu, and her 4fund profile is verified. Reio helps bring together the website, partnership offers and practical information.

How can I find out how Evvu is doing?

We will add the most important recovery and campaign updates to this page.

Who decides what is published?

Evvu does. Photos, health information and other personal details are only published with her consent.

Why is the fundraising target €30,000?

€30,000 is an initial fundraising target, not a sum of bills already incurred or a detailed budget. The course of Evvu’s recovery and the support she will need are not yet known. At the same time, the available support from the local authority, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, insurance and other existing options is being clarified. Donations are intended to cover recovery and day-to-day living costs that remain Evvu’s responsibility alongside those options, such as home and personal assistance, rehabilitation, transport, assistive equipment, adaptations at home and other recovery-related needs. The target may change as the actual needs become clearer.

Does Evvu need round-the-clock care?

There is currently no basis for saying that Evvu needs round-the-clock care. Because she cannot use either hand for everyday activities, she needs help with tasks that require the use of her hands. The amount and form of support will become clearer during her recovery at home and will depend on Evvu’s actual needs.

Who is Reio, and what is his role?

Reio is Evvu’s friend and colleague. With Evvu’s consent, he helps with the practical and technical side of 4EVVU: he manages the website, brings together fundraising and practical information, and prepares texts and materials for Evvu to review. Reio does not manage the money raised. Evvu makes the final decision about what information concerning her is published and how it is presented.

Has artificial intelligence been used to create 4EVVU?

Yes. AI tools have been used to design and build the 4EVVU website and to draft and edit texts. AI is a tool in this project, not a source of facts or a decision-maker. The information published is based on information provided by Evvu and her loved ones and on available documents. Reio prepares the content and technical solutions; texts, photos and significant changes concerning Evvu are reviewed with her before publication. Evvu makes the final decision about what is published about her.

Ask us

Is there something we have not answered?

Send us your question. Submitting a question does not guarantee a reply.

If you do not provide an email address, we cannot reply to you directly, but we may add a question of wider interest and its answer to the FAQ anonymously. We will use your email address only to reply to this question.

We do not reply to spam or to questions that are abusive or violate Evvu’s privacy. Please do not include sensitive personal information about yourself or anyone else.

What happens to my question and information?

When you send us a question, we use the information you provide only for this form: to review the question, reply where possible and, when appropriate, prepare an anonymous FAQ entry.

What do we collect?
We store your question, your email address only if you add it, and the selected site language. To limit misuse of the form, a temporary technical identifier is stored. We do not store your IP address itself.

Who can see your question?
Reio administers the questions under Evvu’s direction. When needed, he reviews a question with Evvu.

Will my question be published?
Not automatically. If a question could also help others, we may later add its general meaning and an answer to the FAQ, but we first remove information that could identify you.

How long do we keep the information?
We use the question and any email address you provide for up to 6 months. They are then removed the next time the system is used. The technical identifier used to limit misuse of the form is retained for up to 48 hours.

Where is the information processed?
We use OpenAI Sites and Cloudflare to operate the website. Some technical processing may therefore take place outside the European Economic Area under the providers’ terms and safeguards.

Your rights
You can ask what information we hold about you or ask us to correct or delete it. You also have the right to contact the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate (AKI). For a request about your information, email: evelin@4evvu.com.

Who is responsible for 4EVVU’s use of information?
Evelin Tamm is responsible for 4EVVU’s use of information. Reio helps administer the website and questions under Evvu’s direction.

Consent
Our use of the information is based on the consent you give on the form. You can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing the same contact address. Withdrawal does not make our earlier use of the information unlawful.