20th Anniversary Transplant Celebration 🎉

2005: An Unforgettable Year

Last year, we posted on what would have been Emily’s 19th double lung transplant anniversary and hoped the message was felt in matters of making the most of the time the Lord gives us. We highly encourage you to go back and read (or reread) the message again if you need some encouragement!

It would be a huge miss on our part if we didn’t repost Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s video coverage of her surgery and just how much it changed her life. The hope in her voice and outlook still inspires people today. Her brother, Bryan, also wrote an article in The Lantern that gives perspective into how Emily and her family felt during the process of the transplant.

Emily’s Perspective

Emily faced many hardships in the years following her surgery. Cystic Fibrosis has no cure at this time, so although the new lungs gave her a longer lease on life, it was just an extension, but one she didn’t take for granted. In October 2019, she boldly and rawly conveyed that sentiment in an article on “For Every Mom”.

And then in Emily’s final year in April 2023, she wrote one of her last posts giving insight into her thoughts on organ donation and transplants. What opportunities it had given her! In her own words, she was “eternally grateful that my donor, Suzanne, decided to donate her organs.” An 18-year extension was more than she ever thought possible and it enabled her to be braver than she probably ever thought she could be as she wrote books, was very involved in both her family and church, and even got to be on Jeopardy!

Looking Back, but Moving Forward

Emily was the first person to have a double lung transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 20 years ago, which opened the door for the many that have since and still more to come.

Even stories as recent as December 2023, 16-year old Maggie received a double lung transplant at Children’s after an unexpected diagnosis. It’s a bittersweet overlap, as Emily was also in Children’s and probably would have loved to meet Maggie, but passed away in that same time period. Even so, Emily’s surgery was the start of hope for Maggie and so many others in the future to come. I’m sure she would have had many words of wisdom to pass on, but possibly most of all, she would want everyone to appreciate the now, but keep looking forward towards God and what He has in store for each of us.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” - 1 Peter 5:10

Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before Us

Bible reading next to Emily’s grave.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

November 1st and 2nd are for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebration in the Catholic tradition (learn more). These are days set aside to thank the Lord for the saints who spread His amazing gospel that has echoed through time until now as well as loved ones who have passed into eternity. It’s a time a remembrance and thanksgiving. Write a list out of the names of all those who have gone before you and brought you to Christ or made you stronger in Him.

This time is also a time where people take their own mortality into consideration. Last year on this same day, Emily wrote her last entry about this important time for Catholics, not knowing that she would join those she loved and cherished that had gone before her. She had prepared herself for so long and really believed in the fact that “this world’s our ship and not our home” (St. Therese).

Please take a moment to read her words from last year to understand a bit more about these celebrations and maybe consider getting her book, Living Memento Mori, as well since it’s a great book on life, death, and self reflection.

To end this, here is a short excerpt from a song called “Death Be Not Proud” by a band called Attalus that really sums up how we all should look at death in the reality of the work Christ completed on the cross for us. The work that all those before us, including Emily herself, believed so completely in and shared boldly (may we all obtain such courage for the sake of other’s coming to the faith). We don’t have to be afraid of our end here on earth when we have confidence in what lies ahead in our eternity.

“Dates on a stone
Oh, they're just an alibi
A simple line
It can't sum up my life
Beneath the tears
The wreaths, the letters, and the roses
God composes a new life
As the old one decomposes

So come on death, I've got your dues
Take them any way you choose
And shake the heavens with your smile
If my bones are worth your while
But this coffin's just a womb
Thanks to the cross and empty tomb
My God will get the final laugh
Death, here He comes - your epitaph!”

And finally, a bonus throwback photo of Emily and her siblings during Halloween in the 90s!

A throwback photo of Emily and her siblings during Halloween in the 90s with costumes on.