Emma
It’s really amazing when my past and present lives can come together. When I received an email from my college boyfriend–who now lives in Alaska–asking if I could help his friend’s daughter who lives in Richmond, well, I had to read on.
When I visited little Emma’s Go Fund Me site and read the excerpt written by her mother, Laura Washington (posted below), I was so glad I was there to see my worlds
Emma’s mom, Laura
combine for good. We made a donation and if you’re able to, they would greatly appreciate it. One of the amazing benefits of having a blog like this is watching all the good pour out of our readers. Thank you for that.
My daughter Emma was diagnosed in January 2012 when she was 12 years old with Avascular Necrosis. For some unknown reason, the blood flow to her hip was cut off. This caused the top of her femur to die and it started to collapse. Since it was diagnosed in a fairly late stage, her options were limited.
She underwent an operation in March 2012 called a Free Vascularized Fibular Graft where surgeons removed her fibula and grafted it onto her femur in an effort to create a strut to keep her hip from collapsing. The recovery was slow and painful. She wasn’t allowed to put any weight on her leg and therefore was bed ridden for 3 months. She missed going to school and seeing her friends.
When she went for her 6 month post op checkup, the x-rays revealed that the operation had not been successful and that her hip had collapsed.
Her only options were to live with the constant pain and the need to use crutches or get the first of what may be many total hip replacements. Being a 13 year old in Junior High who is known as “that girl with the crutch” has not been easy. And for the past year, this has been her life.
But the pain has been increasing and her hip has continued to deteriorate and she has decided it is time to get a new hip.
Emma has been lucky enough to find a surgeon at the best orthopedic hospital in the country who has done joint replacements on many kids who suffer with juvenile arthritis. He has offered to replace her hip. Unfortunately, the hospital is in New York City and we are in Richmond, VA.
We are trying to raise money to help pay for our travel and hotel expenses (and to board her pup Louie.) Emma will be in too much pain to travel after she is released from the hospital and will need to recover for about a week before she can get on a plane or train.
Please help me give Emma back her life. No donation is too small and every dollar helps.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my brave girl!
