Along with the rest of the world, we were eagerly anticipating the end of 2020 and the excitement of starting a fresh New Year.  However, our year did not start as planned.

Our only child, Emersen, a bright, enthusiastic, athletic, optimistic 13-year-old, became sick with what we believed to be a stomach flu the day after Christmas.  After two days of feeling tired and lethargic, she woke up Monday morning and fainted, which prompted us to take her to the Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) Emergency Department.

While in the Emergency Department, Emersen's vital signs and various tests all appeared normal.  However, the ED physician, concerned that something might still be wrong, suggested we keep her overnight for observation.  In the early hours of the following morning, our journey with Nationwide Children's Hospital truly began.  Emersen's blood cultures revealed she had MSSA, a bacterial infection in her bloodstream.  Within 24 hours of that diagnosis, we learned the infection had spread to her heart.  Emersen was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis and underwent emergency open-heart surgery the very next day to repair her mitral valve.

After several days in the hospital, we were discharged and hoped life was beginning to return to normal.  Instead, a routine visit from her home healthcare nurse, along with abnormal blood test results, sent us back to the hospital.

It was during that visit that we learned the bacterial infection had continued to damage Emersen's heart and that she would need a second open-heart surgery to replace her mitral valve.  That surgery took place exactly two weeks after her first—but it would not be her last.

Just two weeks later, Emersen was diagnosed with a rare aneurysm in her heart, requiring a third emergency open-heart surgery.  In the days and months that followed, she developed Organizing Pneumonia, multiple blood clots, and suffered a stroke.

Today, after spending more than 164 days at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Emersen is thriving as an Ohio State sophomore, enjoying time with friends, and pursuing her dream of becoming a physician.  Inspired by the exceptional care she received from the talented doctors and compassionate nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), Emersen is proudly a Buckeye studying medicine so she can one day care for children facing challenges similar to her own.

Our journey, however, is not over.

Emersen is currently back in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Nationwide Children's Hospital awaiting her fourth open-heart surgery on Wednesday, July 15, when she will receive a new mitral valve.  After suddenly becoming very ill on July 2, doctors discovered she had developed flash pulmonary edema.  Thankfully, they were able to stabilize her and remove the fluid from her lungs.  After careful evaluation, her medical team determined that it is time to replace her mitral valve.

While this is another difficult chapter in Emersen's journey, it is also a reminder of how far she has come and how grateful we are for the incredible team at Nationwide Children's Hospital.  Their expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment have enabled Emersen to continue pursuing her dreams.  We remain hopeful as she prepares for this next surgery and deeply appreciate the love, prayers, and support that have carried our family every step of the way.