Please Support Baby Emery
Donation protected
Emery is my sister's beautiful baby girl.
She was born May 13th @ 7:02 am. 7 lbs 9 oz to Tawnymara and Dallin Knudson (she is their first child). Two days after she joined their family they discovered that half of her heart wasn't working and were told devastating news... she likely wouldn't survive past her first surgery.
Emery miraculously pulled through her first open-heart surgery and we will always be grateful to the incredible staff at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital and for the prayers of thousands of people from across the world who helped make her miracle possible.
She still has a long and hard road ahead of her though, which includes multiple open-heart surgeries and eventually a heart transplant. Tawnymara and Dallin have been told that each procedure, and even the recovery time between procedures, has a high mortality rate. For more medically minded folks Emery has Tricuspid Atresia, D-TGA, and large VSD/ASD.
So what's next for little Emery and her parents?
Tawnymara and Dallin have been told by their medical team that it would be good for them to move from Utah to Indiana. Emery's heart would function and recover better in a lower elevation, Indianapolis is home to Riley Children's Hospital (well known for Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery), and they would be surrounded by friends and family.
The problem is that moving across the country is expensive and their savings has been completely depleted. Tawnymara and Dallin had been working hard to save for their first home, but the combination of medical bills, travel and lodging expenses, lost work time, and a large list of required home medical supplies (not covered by insurance) took a major toll on their finances.
Despite their best efforts, there's no way for them to pay for a move anytime soon.
When I suggested creating a GoFundMe my sister almost killed me because she hates the idea of asking for help, but they need it right now.
The goal of $6,000 is just enough to help them relocate to Indiana (though I'm secretly hoping they are able to raise significantly more). It's not anywhere near how much they've already had to spend to help little Emery, but Tawnymara and Dallin refused to let me set a higher goal because "there are other people who need help" and they don't want to pull away from others in need.
If you can, please consider helping this beautiful little family! Emery will happily say thank you as soon as she learns how :-)
I wanted to share one of Tawnymara's recent Facebook posts:
"The other day a mother had a baby and asked how old Emery was. After saying she was three months, she said, “she’s tiny! Well... as long as she’s healthy.”
I then laughed and said, “oh, she really isn’t” and pointed to all the tubes coming out of her face.
The entire time I was pregnant I would hear that, too. “As long as it’s healthy” they would say. I would always nod and agree.
My reality is that she’s not healthy, and never will be. Her condition is life long and will require many invasive surgeries and interventions.
Nonetheless... I’ve never been happier because she absolutely lights up our lives and has made both Dallin and I better people. I smile so much my face hurts! My anxiety is through the roof and yet I love my life and what’s she’s done to it.
I’m so grateful for the gift of being Emery’s mom!
Life is never what we expect, but it’s always what we can handle with the help of the Lord."
Is there anything you could give to help?
Donating just $5 can help provide Emery with needed home supplies or pay for (almost) two gallons of gas on their way to Indiana. How many gallons of gas do you think your donation could cover?
I know there are wonderful people all over the world who may be in circumstances that don't allow them to give any financial support right now. Please know that whatever your current situation you can still help by sharing this with others and continuing to pray for sweet little Emery and her family.
We're so grateful for everyone's love and support. It means the world to us (and to Emery)!
She was born May 13th @ 7:02 am. 7 lbs 9 oz to Tawnymara and Dallin Knudson (she is their first child). Two days after she joined their family they discovered that half of her heart wasn't working and were told devastating news... she likely wouldn't survive past her first surgery.
Emery miraculously pulled through her first open-heart surgery and we will always be grateful to the incredible staff at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital and for the prayers of thousands of people from across the world who helped make her miracle possible.
She still has a long and hard road ahead of her though, which includes multiple open-heart surgeries and eventually a heart transplant. Tawnymara and Dallin have been told that each procedure, and even the recovery time between procedures, has a high mortality rate. For more medically minded folks Emery has Tricuspid Atresia, D-TGA, and large VSD/ASD.
So what's next for little Emery and her parents?
Tawnymara and Dallin have been told by their medical team that it would be good for them to move from Utah to Indiana. Emery's heart would function and recover better in a lower elevation, Indianapolis is home to Riley Children's Hospital (well known for Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery), and they would be surrounded by friends and family.
The problem is that moving across the country is expensive and their savings has been completely depleted. Tawnymara and Dallin had been working hard to save for their first home, but the combination of medical bills, travel and lodging expenses, lost work time, and a large list of required home medical supplies (not covered by insurance) took a major toll on their finances.
Despite their best efforts, there's no way for them to pay for a move anytime soon.
When I suggested creating a GoFundMe my sister almost killed me because she hates the idea of asking for help, but they need it right now.
The goal of $6,000 is just enough to help them relocate to Indiana (though I'm secretly hoping they are able to raise significantly more). It's not anywhere near how much they've already had to spend to help little Emery, but Tawnymara and Dallin refused to let me set a higher goal because "there are other people who need help" and they don't want to pull away from others in need.
If you can, please consider helping this beautiful little family! Emery will happily say thank you as soon as she learns how :-)
I wanted to share one of Tawnymara's recent Facebook posts:
"The other day a mother had a baby and asked how old Emery was. After saying she was three months, she said, “she’s tiny! Well... as long as she’s healthy.”
I then laughed and said, “oh, she really isn’t” and pointed to all the tubes coming out of her face.
The entire time I was pregnant I would hear that, too. “As long as it’s healthy” they would say. I would always nod and agree.
My reality is that she’s not healthy, and never will be. Her condition is life long and will require many invasive surgeries and interventions.
Nonetheless... I’ve never been happier because she absolutely lights up our lives and has made both Dallin and I better people. I smile so much my face hurts! My anxiety is through the roof and yet I love my life and what’s she’s done to it.
I’m so grateful for the gift of being Emery’s mom!
Life is never what we expect, but it’s always what we can handle with the help of the Lord."
Is there anything you could give to help?
Donating just $5 can help provide Emery with needed home supplies or pay for (almost) two gallons of gas on their way to Indiana. How many gallons of gas do you think your donation could cover?
I know there are wonderful people all over the world who may be in circumstances that don't allow them to give any financial support right now. Please know that whatever your current situation you can still help by sharing this with others and continuing to pray for sweet little Emery and her family.
We're so grateful for everyone's love and support. It means the world to us (and to Emery)!
Fundraising team (3)
David K Inman
Organizer
Fishers, IN
Dallin Knudson
Beneficiary
Tawnymara Inman Knudson
Team member