(From Beth, Emma’s mom)

“It has been a long journey for Emma! At 7 hours old she was rushed to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago when they discovered some serious heart defects she was born with. Emma is 24 years young. She was born 10/5/99 at 4lbs and 16 inches long. But don’t get us wrong, she was a fiery strong little girl! She was also born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome as well as some other critical heart defects. Basically she was born with half a heart. Emma has undergone 4 open heart surgeries, multiple other unrelated surgeries and a multitude of invasive diagnostic procedures.

The thing is that Emma started feeling unwell in the last few years. Her energy has decreased, her stamina has decreased. She has played special Olympics basketball for years, and in recent years she has had to leave the court due to significant shortness of breath, dizziness and racing heart. It was effecting her work as a food runner at Chick-Fil-A.

At one of her cardiology visits they said it may be time for a heart transplant evaluation. Emma had cardiac rehab 3x week for 12weeks in hope of improving her heart function but that was not successful. So she was evaluated for a heart transplant over the last year and it was recommended that she get a heart transplant. Emma was listed for a heart transplant on 1/17/24.

We don’t know when a heart will come but we are in the process of planning how this will affect our family, including caring for Emma’s brother Jacob, who has special needs as we find care for him while we are tending to Emma at the hospital.” Beth.

(From Leroy, Emma’s dad)

“The thing about Emma is that since she was born she has touched so many peoples lives, people remember her. Literally almost every time we are out at a store or event, she has people seek her out remembering her from her story and plays at church and how she lives out her faith in Jesus. As parents, watching her go thru this process and seeing her conviction about making it thru this process, this has increased our faith and trust.” Leroy

(From Emma)

“Hi. I’m Emma Lyn Kotecki. You may know me from your childhood, school life experience, on the basketball court or at church. Now, when you look at me and think there’s nothing wrong with her, she’s just a normal person. Well, I’ve got news for you. I may look normal on the outside but on the inside of me its a completely different ball game. Grab a cup of coffee and some tissues because you’re gonna need them on this journey that I’m about to take you on. Oh, by the way… there might be some bumpy roads so bare with me. ” Emma

COTA

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA also works with individuals of any age with a single-gene disorder such as Polycystic Kidney Disease, Cystic Fibrosis or Sickle Cell Disease. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy families. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free of charge and gifts) to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.