Emma Lemon Tree

Emma Lemon Tree

Hello everyone! Please allow me to introduce our Emma, affectionately known by the silly nickname, “Emma Lemon Tree”; a name given to her by her mommy Cecilia, before she was born! Far from sour, Emma is the sweetest baby that you could ever see.  Unfortunately, it is Emma’s story that begins to sour.

Emma was born with VACTERL association, which means she has multiple birth defects that are associated with each other.  She has a large PDA ( a hole in her heart) that normally closes at birth. Emma needs major open heart surgery in order to repair the defect; without the repair, she will not survive.   In addition, Emma has a condition called “pulmonary vein stenosis”; the veins that drain her lungs into the heart are narrowed--yet another life threatening condition. Emma will also require surgery for the repair but also can expect multiple reinterventions throughout her life to maintain her lung function.  

While these are Emma’s most life-threatening issues, her trials are far from over.  Emma was born without an anus or vagina; a situation that is associated with defects in the reproductive organs and lower spine. Not only does Emma have to endure major heart and lung surgery, she faces multiple surgeries to correct the defects in her anus and reproductive organs.   

Despite all of her obstacles, and what appear to be a shower of sour lemons, Emma remains as sweet as can be!

Emma needs our help!

Our little Emma, still just a seedling, needs our help. Emma, not even 3 months old,  has been hospitalized twice in the last 2 weeks with heart complications. She has already had a heart catheterization and has been on a breathing machine temporarily.  She is scheduled to have her first heart surgery in the next couple of weeks. All of this before doctors can even consider addressing her anal and reproductive organ issues.

Emma Lemon Tree lives in San Antonio. She has a very supportive family system, including her big sister Chloe (Cocoa Bean) who turns three next month.  However, for her parents, the commute back and forth to the hospital and multiple doctors appointments with a toddler in daycare is emotionally exhausting and expensive. Cocoa and Emma Lemon Tree could both use the extra strength from their parents right now, and their parents could certainly use the extra support to help them stay strong for their growing girls.

Emma’s mom and dad work very hard to make ends meet. Unfortunately, they have missed many days of work because of Emma’s hospitalizations and the bills are piling up. They applied for social security for Emma, but she was denied with an appeal pending.

If all of this were not enough, Emma’s mom, Cecilia, is an insulin-dependent diabetic; a condition in and of itself that is financially straining. This tough family has known challenges for many years, but Little Emma Lemon Tree is teaching us what it means to be humble and reach out for help.


How you can help

The  goal is to raise $5000.00 to help offset the cost for gas, hotels, and loss of income from time off work.

On top of caring for a beautiful 3-month-old girl with serious lifelong health conditions, mom and dad have to continue working, tend to Emma’s 3-year-old sister,  stay on top of car payments, health insurance, bills, and rent. Even asking for support from me, grandmother, is a challenge for these determined and loving parents. To see them in such a bind while their Little Lemon Tree needs all the support she can get is enough to remind all of us that the help delivered can be bigger than the pride swallowed for asking.

We are asking for your donations, or to please forward this site to help our Emma, and her family, climb this seemingly insurmountable mountain with the hopes of a happy and healthy productive life.  While Emma has disabilities she still has a chance to make a difference in this world; to make the world a better place. Helping Emma, helps us all. Thank you!