This is Emerson! She is an energetic 6 year old girl that loves going fast in her wheelchair, doing her make up, and playing Barbies. Emerson is the middle child of 3, having 2 brothers. Emerson was born with myelomeningocele (MMC), or Spina Bifida. MMC is when part of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves push through the open bones in the spine and protrude from the baby’s back. Spina Bifida can affect a person’s mobility and physical activity. MMC is not curable but treatable. 

The goal for treatment is independence. Treatments can include physical therapy (PT) used for gross motor skills and to build strength, occupational therapy (OT) for fine motor skills, and speech therapy when needed for talking. Emerson currently is receiving PT and OT. In PT she works on core strengthening and balance, transferring from her wheelchair, getting in and out of her wheelchair and many other things. OT Emerson works on hand strengthening, dressing herself, and other self help goals. 

The goal for Emerson is independence. A service dog in many ways could help facilitate her to need less adult help with activities. Our hope is she could rely on her dog to help her get things that were dropped, press buttons she’s too small to reach, and help with safe transferring. Emerson is a determined little girl with the right assistance will do big things. 

She is a sweet, energetic, and sometimes sassy girl that doesn’t let Spina Bifida stop her. Any donations will be greatly appreciated for Emerson’s new fur baby. Thank you for reading about our amazing girl. 

You can also mail a check or money order to:

W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, 112 East Center Street, Berea, OH 44017

Please make a memo that your donation is for Emerson