I’m reaching out today with a heavy heart to update you on Emery’s condition. Yesterday was an incredibly difficult day for our family. As most of you know, Emery had been making progress, and we had hoped for a smoother path ahead. However, things took a sudden turn last night, and I wanted to share what happened with all of you, as we are facing another critical moment in his journey.
Around 11:10 p.m., Emery’s condition worsened unexpectedly. His blood pressure and heart rate dropped dramatically, leaving the doctors concerned about his stability. His oxygen levels, which had been fluctuating earlier in the day, suddenly took a drastic dip. The medical team responded quickly, calling a code, and began chest compressions while the ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) team worked fast to hook him up to the life-saving machine. They acted swiftly, but in that moment, my heart sank. Watching your child fight for his life is something no parent should ever have to experience, and I’ve never felt more helpless in my life.
The decision to place Emery on ECMO was necessary to give his heart a chance to rest and heal. His heart had been working overtime, and the ECMO machine was used to temporarily take over the job of pumping blood and oxygen throughout his body. This is a crucial step in his care, as it provides the vital support his heart needs while doctors assess how much damage has been done and whether it can recover. While this procedure is a step toward saving his life, it also means that we are in a period of waiting and uncertainty.
The medical team is closely monitoring Emery’s condition and will continue to do so over the next few days. They are hopeful that with ECMO support, his heart can heal and that his body will rest without the strain of trying to do all the work on its own. But there’s still a lot of uncertainty ahead. One of the biggest concerns right now is whether Emery will be able to recover without significant brain injury. The doctors are keeping a close eye on his neurological status, and we are praying with everything we have that there will be no lasting damage. This is the hardest part of the journey—knowing how fragile his condition is and feeling the weight of the unknown.
The next few days will be critical for Emery. As of now, it’s a waiting game. The doctors have told us that there may not be many updates in the coming days as they focus on stabilizing him and allowing his body the time it needs to heal. While we appreciate the care and attention from the medical team, it’s incredibly difficult to sit back and wait. The fear of what could happen next lingers, but we continue to hold on to the hope that Emery will rise to the challenge once again.
It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling right now. As a parent, it’s an unbearable experience to watch your child go through so much pain and uncertainty. There is nothing more gut-wrenching than knowing your child is in distress, and you can only sit by and hope. I can’t be there with him physically right now, which makes it even harder. Every day, every hour, we face this uphill battle, but my love for Emery, our love for him, keeps us going. He’s fought so hard, and we believe he will continue to fight.
We want to thank you all for the love and support you have shown us through this. Your prayers, thoughts, and words of encouragement mean the world to us. In these dark times, the kindness and care from our friends, family, and community provide us with the strength we need to keep going. The messages of hope and love remind us that we are not alone on this journey.
Please continue to pray for Emery. Pray for strength, for healing, and for his heart and body to recover. Your continued support and prayers make a difference, and we feel them every day. We need your love now more than ever as we wait for the next steps.
Thank you for standing with us through this incredibly difficult time. The road ahead is uncertain, but we remain hopeful. Emery’s strength and resilience inspire us every single day, and with all of your love and prayers, we are hopeful that he will continue to fight and heal. We will keep you updated as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Your support means everything to us, and we are forever grateful.