Hello everyone ❤️‍

A few weeks ago, everything looked perfect at a routine check-up. But when I hadn’t felt Emersyn (Emmy) move for a few days, we went in to get checked on May 24th—and it turned out to be much more serious than we ever expected.

At the time, I was 25 weeks pregnant, but Emmy was measuring closer to 21 weeks. I was admitted to the Antepartum unit for close monitoring of what appeared to be a growth restriction caused by either kidney concerns or placental issues.

We’ve since learned the true cause: I had a placental complication that caused Emmy’s umbilical cord to become tightly coiled, which restricted the blood and nutrients she needed to grow. That’s why she was so small and had to be delivered early.

Despite the challenges, we made birth at 26 weeks and now she’s 29 weeks gestation and 2 weeks old! Emmy has been in the NICU since birth.

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Emmy’s Surgery & Fight

Just a week after birth, Emmy developed a swollen belly, wasn’t pooping, and required 100% oxygen support. These were signs of a serious gut issue. She had emergency abdominal surgery, where doctors found and removed a small portion of her colon that had become necrotic — likely due to NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis), a condition that affects fragile preemies.

She was placed on a special ventilator (HFOV) to support her lungs while her body rested and began healing.

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But Now, Some Good News

Over the last few days, Emmy has made some major strides:

• She’s off the oscillator and back on the Dräger ventilator

• She’s been weaned off several medications

• Her vitals have remained stable

She’s still fragile and has a long way to go — including another surgery in a few months to reconnect her intestines once she’s grown stronger and gained weight. But for now, she’s heading in the right direction, one day at a time.

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How You Can Support Us

This journey has been emotionally and financially overwhelming — from my extended hospital stay, to Emmy’s surgeries, and the long NICU road ahead. We’re also navigating being with both our daughters and time away from work.

If you’re able to support us or share our fundraiser, we’d be incredibly grateful. Most of all, thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Emmy is already teaching us so much about strength and faith.

With love,

Brandon & Katelyn Busby