AKRON, Ohio — Emma Pfouts, the 16-year-old Norton cheerleader who fell critically ill after a severe asthma attack during her school’s homecoming dance last year, is continuing to make progress each day, and her family is making preparations for her to come home from the hospital.
On Oct. 19, 2019, Emma was at the homecoming dance when she started struggling to breathe. A police officer watched as Emma walked to her car to grab her asthma inhaler, but as she returned to the building, the officer noticed the teen was in serious trouble. She never made it back inside.
Emma was placed in a medically-induced coma, and soon after waking up began swallowing, yawning and moving her eyes, as well as moving her hand. She is in physical therapy, has gotten her personality back and is communicating with her family and doctors.
Christina Weigand, Emma’s mother, expressed gratitude for all of the donations, fundraisers and offers to help they’ve received from the community, and of course, the prayers.
However, many of you have gone ABOVE & BEYOND with your donations, offers to help, doing fundraisers, sending meals, etc. I was hesitant to do this post acknowledging it because I don’t want anyone to think we are asking for anything other than prayers but to not acknowledge those people just doesn’t feel right. So many of you have been INCREDIBLY KIND & GRACIOUS to us & I just want you to know that we are FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR IT! We know how blessed we are just for the prayers, let alone all the other things you all have been so gracious to do & offer us.
Weigand said that as they prepare for Emma to come home, they are figuring out how to make their home accessible for her. The family thought about adding an addition to their home as they have stairs at all of their entrances right now. They’ll also need to add a wheelchair accessible bathroom in the home for Emma before she returns.
Emma and her family have shown immense strength through their journey and continue to do so as Emma makes more and more progress each day, getting closer with each milestone to returning home for the first time since October.
You can learn more about supporting Emma by clicking here.
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