Our journey started on the early morning of September 24th. Emerson was just about 3 months old. We brought her into the ER (Summerlin Hospital) in Las Vegas because we thought she was sick and dehydrated (both parents had been sick with the common cold previously). They ran tests. We could never have been prepared with the news that the doctor brought back. He said Emerson was in congestive heart failure. From that moment, our world fell apart, changed forever and became a whirlwind.

We were transferred to a children’s hospital (Sunrise) in Las Vegas. The cardiologist did an echo and immediately knew that Emerson was in big trouble and worked to get us transferred where she could get more help than they could do. He immediately felt she would need a heart transplant, and Sunrise does not do that. So, that night, we were sent off to Loma Linda University Hospital in California.

Emerson’s official diagnosis is dilated cardiomyopathy (very rare). This affects the muscle of the heart, so there really isn’t any surgery that can fix her heart (such as a hole or a valve, etc.). She is on the heart transplant list and we wait. Andrea (mom) has relocated to Loma Linda to be with our daughter every day. Brandon (dad) is doing his best to work during the week, and commute on the weekends. We know that this is going to be a long journey. We know Emerson is going to needs lots of help over the years. This is where COTA comes in.

Here is a little information about COTA:

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Thank you so much for those who have already helped us out, or are considering to help us out. Any little bit goes a long way. 

Let’s get Emerson home! She is full of spunk, and she loves to smile and play. She is overall a great baby and has a fantastic little personality. I can’t wait to see how she grows. I am so proud of her and her fight and I love her so.