Help Heather Secure a Van for Emmett's Care

Hi, my name is Christy and I met Heather over 10 years ago. Both of our boys have medical needs, which we bonded over, and we became even closer through a Mom's group we attend each week.

Heather is one of the strongest women I know, and she's a super Mom to Taylor and Emmett. I want to help her raise money so she has a reliable van to get Emmett to all of his important appointments. Read on for their story...

Emmett is 6 years old and was born with a rare immune deficiency called WDR1, which basically means his immune system doesn't fight off infections the way our bodies do, so he is at a higher risk for severe, and even life-threatening, infections.

His is the worst documented case so far, and he is only the 13th person in the world to have this deficiency. At 6 months, his little body underwent a bone marrow transplant - he became the third person to have a transplant to try and cure this. Although the procedure was successful, it didn't completely get rid of the disease.

On top of that, he is one of the youngest known to develop Crohn's disease, which has him on immune suppressant medication. He is fed through a g-tube and is going to feeding therapy to eventually learn how to eat with his mouth.

And although he is autistic and non-verbal, he is such a happy boy who LOVES to learn! At his parent teacher conferences, his teacher raved about how smart he was and how she would love to have more time with him!

Heather has been the main caretaker for Emmett since he's been born. After all his diagnoses, she and Emmett's Dad agreed she would stay home to take care of his medical needs and take him to his countless appointments, while his Dad provided financially for the family.

Recently Heather decided it was the healthiest choice to leave that relationship with Emmett's Dad, but the house, car and everything else she used were in his name. He's willing to sell her the van for $35,000, but since her full-time job has been taking care of Emmett for the past 6 years, she does not have any of her own savings or a job lined up yet to buy it from him.

Heather NEEDS a reliable car. Her calendar is filled with taking Emmett to his special school for two hours a day, to physical therapy appointments, specialist appointments and feeding appointments, not to mention getting her teenage daughter, Taylor, to school and activities. I wanted to do this fundraiser to not only help her get a car, but also give her some cushion, so she can pay for groceries, clothes and bills that are starting to pile up.

Heather is a strong woman. And she will get as creative as she has to to make ends meet, like buying shoes for Taylor for homecoming by selling clothing and other items on Facebook marketplace to pay for them. She does not ask for help and is not used to receiving it. But being a single Mom of two amazing kids, I have seen her try to juggle this new normal for all of them. She will sacrifice whatever she needs to ensure her kids are happy and healthy, but I hate to see her do it alone.

Heather has always been creative with how to bring some extra money in, finding things that she can do while still being at home, taking care of Emmett. She started a jewelry business with a partner, called Emmett Rose Designs. She helps her brother with clerical work for his business, and she is willing to sell things to get whatever they need, along with shopping garage sales to stretch her money as far as it can go. Or choosing the most efficient route to run all her errands so she uses less gas.

Emmett is her little superhero who needs a LOT of care and attention. Heather keeps him on schedule with his g-tube feedings, the medications he's on, injections he needs, plus his school schedule, and all the therapy sessions he goes to.

At our Mom's group and at home, she is constantly watching where is at and what he's doing, since he's still unaware of danger or consequences. And because he's non-verbal, she has to be aware when he's trying to communicate with her and get her attention, which can make it very difficult to get much done.

Days and nights are harder when he gets sick, dealing with worsening constipation or having a Crohn's flare. His sleep schedule gets off, he is cranky and in pain, therapies can get cancelled, feeds get adjusted, and more laundry is piled on. Heather works really hard to keep things cleaned and sanitized since his health depends on it.

Heather is SUCH a good Mom. Even though Emmett demands her attention and care almost constantly, she is always smiling and laughing with him, taking time to say ABCs or numbers, teaching him at every opportunity. The other Moms and I are completely in awe of her as she changes his diaper and fills up his feeding tube, as she carries on a conversation with us, and talks with him without even blinking an eye. She has his routine down, and it's impressive how much she gives to him every single day.

Which is why I would love to ask for your help in giving something back to Heather. Any little gift will help her get the van she needs to take care of her kids and get Emmett to his appointments.

Thank you for your generous hearts and willingness to help this beautiful family. And thank you for sharing this link so we can share her story with as many people as possible.