Our daughter, Emma Marie, was born in August 2003. She was a beautiful baby with a full head of black hair (much to our surprise...we both are fair). She weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and she appeared to be very healthy. The second night in the hospital, Emma's blood sugar dropped dangerously low. It is unknown why this happened, but we thank the Lord for the nurse who was on call that night for noticing Emma's lethargy and mottled skin. She was given formula supplement and sugar water, and was back to normal within 12 hours. It never happened again.

At 3 weeks of age, Emma began to look jaundiced.  We remember thinking, "Oh no, we're going to have to go to the hospital and spend the weekend under the bili lights. We have so much to do...there is no way that we can take time out of our schedule to spend a weekend in the hospital!" If only we knew of the road that our precious angel would lead us on.

At 6 weeks of age, we were sent to Denver Children's Hospital. After many tests and a liver biopsy, Emma was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Her Kasai was done at 7 1/2 weeks. The surgery appeared to be very successful, at first! She had bile flow in the hospital, and we were so happy. However, after the first two days, the bile flow decreased. We were finally able to go home after 5 1/2 weeks in Denver.

In December, we went back to Denver for Emma to be evaluated for liver transplant. During the evaluation, she was scheduled to see the cardiologist (a valve in Emma's heart did not close when she was born). They said this happens in about 50% of babies, however it usually closes within the first 3 months. We were told it would be fairly routine, and more than likely the valve would be closed and we would be cleared by cardiology. I remember the echocardiogram taking a very long time! Then, they put us in a room to wait. When the door opened, the Chief Attending Cardiologist and the Attending came in to tell us that Emma had pulmonary hypertension. It was causing the valve to enlarge, and it was putting pressure on the lungs. They would need to do surgery to see if the pressure could be controlled. If the pressure could not be controlled, then she would not be a candidate for a transplant. Our world was spinning! We were thinking, "There is no way this is happening to our baby."  We are both healthy people. "How much can this little girl go through?" Emma went into surgery on December 10. She had a cardiac catheterization, and they were administering different meds to see what would control the pressure. We were told the procedure would take 5-6 hours. After being in surgery for 2 hours they called to tell us she was going to recovery. The surgery was complete.  The first med that they tried, oxygen, worked. We were so relieved and overjoyed. Emma pulled through like a champ! She was sent home on oxygen.

Emma was listed for transplant on January 21, 2004.  She has also graduated from oxygen. She is a tough little girl, and her strength and smiles are what get us through.  We are so blessed to have Emma in our lives!  It has been a journey full of hills, valleys, and wonderful moments with our daughter.  She knows no strangers, and we learn things from her everyday about the wonderful innocence that children bring to our world.

Our daughter, Emma Marie, was born in August 2003. She was a beautiful baby with a full head of black hair (much to our surprise...we both are fair). She weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and she appeared to be very healthy. The second night in the hospital, Emma's blood sugar dropped dangerously low. It is unknown why this happened, but we thank the Lord for the nurse who was on call that night for noticing Emma's lethargy and mottled skin. She was given formula supplement and sugar water, and was back to normal within 12 hours. It never happened again.

At 3 weeks of age, Emma began to look jaundiced.  We remember thinking, "Oh no, we're going to have to go to the hospital and spend the weekend under the bili lights. We have so much to do...there is no way that we can take time out of our schedule to spend a weekend in the hospital!" If only we knew of the road that our precious angel would lead us on.

At 6 weeks of age, we were sent to Denver Children's Hospital. After many tests and a liver biopsy, Emma was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Her Kasai was done at 7 1/2 weeks. The surgery appeared to be very successful, at first! She had bile flow in the hospital, and we were so happy. However, after the first two days, the bile flow decreased. We were finally able to go home after 5 1/2 weeks in Denver.

In December, we went back to Denver for Emma to be evaluated for liver transplant. During the evaluation, she was scheduled to see the cardiologist (a valve in Emma's heart did not close when she was born). They said this happens in about 50% of babies, however it usually closes within the first 3 months. We were told it would be fairly routine, and more than likely the valve would be closed and we would be cleared by cardiology. I remember the echocardiogram taking a very long time! Then, they put us in a room to wait. When the door opened, the Chief Attending Cardiologist and the Attending came in to tell us that Emma had pulmonary hypertension. It was causing the valve to enlarge, and it was putting pressure on the lungs. They would need to do surgery to see if the pressure could be controlled. If the pressure could not be controlled, then she would not be a candidate for a transplant. Our world was spinning! We were thinking, "There is no way this is happening to our baby."  We are both healthy people. "How much can this little girl go through?" Emma went into surgery on December 10. She had a cardiac catheterization, and they were administering different meds to see what would control the pressure. We were told the procedure would take 5-6 hours. After being in surgery for 2 hours they called to tell us she was going to recovery. The surgery was complete.  The first med that they tried, oxygen, worked. We were so relieved and overjoyed. Emma pulled through like a champ! She was sent home on oxygen.

Emma was listed for transplant on January 21, 2004.  She has also graduated from oxygen. She is a tough little girl, and her strength and smiles are what get us through.  We are so blessed to have Emma in our lives!  It has been a journey full of hills, valleys, and wonderful moments with our daughter.  She knows no strangers, and we learn things from her everyday about the wonderful innocence that children bring to our world.

Our daughter, Emma Marie, was born in August 2003. She was a beautiful baby with a full head of black hair (much to our surprise...we both are fair). She weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and she appeared to be very healthy. The second night in the hospital, Emma's blood sugar dropped dangerously low. It is unknown why this happened, but we thank the Lord for the nurse who was on call that night for noticing Emma's lethargy and mottled skin. She was given formula supplement and sugar water, and was back to normal within 12 hours. It never happened again.

At 3 weeks of age, Emma began to look jaundiced.  We remember thinking, "Oh no, we're going to have to go to the hospital and spend the weekend under the bili lights. We have so much to do...there is no way that we can take time out of our schedule to spend a weekend in the hospital!" If only we knew of the road that our precious angel would lead us on.

At 6 weeks of age, we were sent to Denver Children's Hospital. After many tests and a liver biopsy, Emma was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Her Kasai was done at 7 1/2 weeks. The surgery appeared to be very successful, at first! She had bile flow in the hospital, and we were so happy. However, after the first two days, the bile flow decreased. We were finally able to go home after 5 1/2 weeks in Denver.

In December, we went back to Denver for Emma to be evaluated for liver transplant. During the evaluation, she was scheduled to see the cardiologist (a valve in Emma's heart did not close when she was born). They said this happens in about 50% of babies, however it usually closes within the first 3 months. We were told it would be fairly routine, and more than likely the valve would be closed and we would be cleared by cardiology. I remember the echocardiogram taking a very long time! Then, they put us in a room to wait. When the door opened, the Chief Attending Cardiologist and the Attending came in to tell us that Emma had pulmonary hypertension. It was causing the valve to enlarge, and it was putting pressure on the lungs. They would need to do surgery to see if the pressure could be controlled. If the pressure could not be controlled, then she would not be a candidate for a transplant. Our world was spinning! We were thinking, "There is no way this is happening to our baby."  We are both healthy people. "How much can this little girl go through?" Emma went into surgery on December 10. She had a cardiac catheterization, and they were administering different meds to see what would control the pressure. We were told the procedure would take 5-6 hours. After being in surgery for 2 hours they called to tell us she was going to recovery. The surgery was complete.  The first med that they tried, oxygen, worked. We were so relieved and overjoyed. Emma pulled through like a champ! She was sent home on oxygen.

Emma was listed for transplant on January 21, 2004.  She has also graduated from oxygen. She is a tough little girl, and her strength and smiles are what get us through.  We are so blessed to have Emma in our lives!  It has been a journey full of hills, valleys, and wonderful moments with our daughter.  She knows no strangers, and we learn things from her everyday about the wonderful innocence that children bring to our world.