Emily McElyea

Emily was born full-term on September 19, 2009, at Ball Memorial Hospital and was diagnosed with Tracheoesophageal Fistula (TEF) after a nurse was insistent that something wasn't right. TEF is a condition in which the trachea and the esophagus grow together, leaving no passage from the mouth to the stomach. Emily spent only 11 days at Riley in the NICU before coming home, so our time at Riley was very short but very memorable for us.

On September 30, Emily got to come home. She was well on her road to recovery from her surgery and could be treated like any other infant, with some minor adjustments. For the most part, Emily is the picture of a normal, active girl. She loves to sing and dance as long as she thinks she isn’t being watched. She is a bit shy at first, but once she knows you, watch out! She loves to watch YouTube videos, make slime, and she loves Stranger Things.