Emmy is a Star

Emmy is a Star Emmy went without oxygen at birth. The result was a brain injury that has left her with many challenges. After six long weeks in the NICU, she finally came home.

But we fight for her every day and we hope you will join us. On Feb. 12, 2011, Emerson Grace (AKA Emmy) came into the world by crash C-section. She was not moving or breathing, she was silent and she had no color. . .but she had a faint heartbeat, and that was something. We weren't given much information, other than we'd have to "wait and see". Unfortunately, it was evident from the very beginning

that she hadn't escaped unscathed. We still aren't certain of her future, but we know where she has been and how far she's come. Although a baby's brain is very resilient, she has suffered significant setbacks. But she is working very hard to progress and has captured our hearts and the hearts of many others along the way. Emmy is one hard working little girl and keeps a crazy schedule. . .vision therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, developmental therapy, feeding therapy and a slew of other alternative therapies are all part of every week. . .she usually has 12-15 hours of therapy every week. She also has a team of doctors including a Pediatrician, a Pulmonologist, two Neurologists, a Gastroenterologist, an Otolaryngologist, an Opthamologist, an Audiologist, a Urologist and an Orthopedist. She's endured multiple hospital stays in her short life thus far and somehow manages to spend every birthday in the hospital. We're hoping to change that this year! Her current diagnoses include: Hypoxic Eschemic Encepalopathy (HIE), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Epilepsy, Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI), Chronic Lung Disease, Dysphagia, Failure to Thrive (FTT) and GERD. Despite all of this, we have hope for her future and will do anything for her. She has already come a long way. . .not on the typical milestone chart. . .but in her own special way. Stay tuned to this page for updates on Emmy's therapies and progress. Thank you for following and supporting us on our journey!

04/21/2026

Calling family caregiver programs “fraud” completely misunderstands how disability care actually works.

I’m a paid parent caregiver in California for my daughter Emerson. I worked full time for years while managing her complex medical care, even with outside nursing support. When that support collapsed—and later disappeared for years during COVID—I had no choice but to step in full time.

You cannot hold a traditional job while managing the nonstop reality of medically complex care: appointments, therapies, insurance battles, equipment, supplies, and daily medical needs. It is a full-time job and then some.

California’s program isn’t fraud—it’s a cost-saving alternative to institutional care, which would be far more expensive and far less appropriate.

Parent caregivers are filling a gap in a broken system, not exploiting it.

82 and sunny 😎
04/19/2026

82 and sunny 😎

Yes, please!
04/16/2026

Yes, please!

Accessibility means that everyone has the opportunity to engage in the same interactions, enjoy the same services, and acquire the same information.

Such a fun and productive ride today!
04/16/2026

Such a fun and productive ride today!

Fun little day exploring the Academy Museum of Motion Picture. . . especially the Jaws exhibit 🦈! And lunch at Tail O’ T...
04/12/2026

Fun little day exploring the Academy Museum of Motion Picture. . . especially the Jaws exhibit 🦈! And lunch at Tail O’ The Pup was hysterical. 🌭

Just dropped this new chair off to get set up with an EZ Lock bracket so it can click into our van for transport. But Em...
04/11/2026

Just dropped this new chair off to get set up with an EZ Lock bracket so it can click into our van for transport. But Emmy took it for a spin for a bit before and loved it. After returning to her old chair she said “something’s wrong, something hurts”. And when I asked if her new chair was more comfortable, she said yes with a giggle and a smile. We are scheduled to pick up the new chair next Friday and then we can make the official switch. We’re also still working on the headrest. The new one wasn’t quite working, so I pulled this one that never quite worked for her in the past out of storage and it seemed to suit her now. That’s the thing about equipment, if at first it doesn’t work, store it and try again in 5 or more years and you may be surprised to have discovered something you now can’t live without! 🤷‍♀️

g-pa!!!!!
04/11/2026

g-pa!!!!!

Just keep swinging.
04/10/2026

Just keep swinging.

04/09/2026

Remi was born with cerebral palsy and a love for music. Over time, she learned to play using her eyes, so AT&T helped her achieve her dream of playing alongs...

04/08/2026

Introducing Emmy’s new wheels! 🩵Funny thing about wheelchairs, they are very important to someone who spends most of their life accessing the world in one. And especially for a complex kid, every little detail matters from the head rest to the seat cushions to the wheels and everything in between. Little details can improve function and increase autonomy. Fit, support and comfort are key to success in every act of daily living. This new chair is the Ki Mobility Focus CR with power tilt. It gives Emerson the opportunity to control the tilt using a head switch. This is new technology for her and she still needs lots of practice to use it effectively, but we like to set the bar high and help her achieve goals that give her independence. This chair also has a custom molded seating system by Cushmaker created just for her using a mold of her body. This provides ultimate support and comfort. The process of getting this chair took about eight months and we have a few more weeks before she’ll be able to fully transition to using it. We need to take it to our accessible van dealer to get a special bracket put on that will allow the chair to click into our van (called an EZ Lock). And we also need to set up the AAC mount which requires different hardware from her old chair, and purchase all the little gadgets and doodads needed to accommodate her accessories and supplies that travel with her. This headrest also needs some work as it’s not quite suited for her and we are awaiting a part for her preferred headrest that should work better. It’s a process for sure. In the meantime, we will continue getting her in it to fine tune the fit as needed and let her practice with the head switch that still needs some tweaks to find the right positioning. This chair should last her for the next five years, or at least that’s the standard expectation. Wild to think she’ll have this chair until she’s 20 years old!

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5070 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
90027

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