In Loving Memory of Emily Ludwig

7/31/23 Update: Emily gave a second chance at life to five people today. Her heart, lungs, liver, left and right kidneys were donated to recipients. Her pancreas was donated for research. The parallel between her life and death is not lost on us. Emily was committed to supporting her clients to live life abundantly, and so too in her death she selflessly gave to five recipients. Em, we are so proud of you.

On Saturday, July 22nd, Emily was critically injured in a tragic accident. She was driving on the highway when a tire from the opposite direction struck her car (https://www.kmov.com/2023/07/25/investigators-seek-witnesses-freak-accident-i-44/). She was rushed to the ER and transferred to the Neuro ICU in critical condition. Despite all the efforts of her medical team, her brain sustained catastrophic damage. Yesterday, July 28th, at 11:55am Emily was declared brain dead at the age of 38. Emily was an organ donor and the transplant team has assured us that she will live on. Recipients, who have been waiting in hopeful anticipation of her gift, have been notified.

Emily was kind, quick-witted, fiercely loyal, and deeply committed to loving what mattered most to her. She loved her family, friends and cats, Hector and Baxter. Emily was a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who also loved helping support underserved populations struggling with mental health and substance use. Her passion for supporting her clients was ever-present.

To know Emily was to know love - not simply in words but also with actions. She always seemed to show up when needed the most. If Emily had the opportunity to express her dying wishes I know she would want both the practical short-term and long-term financial needs of her family to be met.

Emily was getting ready to move into a new apartment and was excited to be within walking distance of her family. She was committed to supporting her brother Daniel and mother Donna. Em had plans to make repairs to her childhood home for the long-term safety and well-being of her mother and brother.

The financial burden that comes with unexpected death is overwhelming and expensive. All donations will go directly to Emily’s family to fund funeral arrangements, care for her beloved cats and fulfill her wish of caring for her mother and Daniel.