Our Story
Let us tell you about a precious little baby and our special prayer for her.
Emmalyn Kae Latchford was born premature (no apparent reason, she just decided to make her entrance early) . After a three-day labor she showed her beautiful face to us on July 12, 2009. She started life fighting, being delivered with forceps, having some difficulty breathing, and a low blood sugar count. She was moved into the NIC unit (intensive care for babies) , where she repeatedly endured being stuck with needles to monitor her blood count. A tearful Mom was only able to spend a few minutes with her, as she had difficulties too from delivery which made it impossible for her to get out of bed. Emmy was surrounded with lots of love, however, from Dad and other family that stayed by her side every minute.
Thankfully, after a few days in intensive care, she was able to unite in the hospital with her mom and dad, and allowed to go home a few days later. =)
But Emmy’s pain didn’t stop there. Her mom and dad noticed something different as they would lovingly stare into her beautiful dark blue eyes. She wouldn’t look back at them, and her eyes would wander or bounce, but they kept hope for better for their beautiful blessing. It was at her 3 month pediatric check-up that the doctor made a comment about Emmy’s eyes and recommended she see a pediatric ophthalmologist. It was at that appointment that her parents heard the most devastating words they have ever heard, “Your baby has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, we can’t be sure what she sees or if she can see anything at all, and there is no treatment”.
That is what brings us to now, and our special prayer for Emmy. She is now four and a half months old, and we have people everywhere praying for Emmy to be healed of her ONH.
We believe our prayer is being answered, and we have hope now for Emmy. We have found a hospital in China that is having amazing results in helping ONH babies and children to improve, many to the point of sight!!! There is a 98% positive result rate at this hospital.
Emmy has been accepted for a new procedure in which stem cells are injected by IV or Lumbar Puncture. Let us make it clear that the stem cells are NOT from aborted babies, that would not be acceptable for any reason, we have verified that it is exclusively from an umbilical cord bank. We still have tests to do and money to raise before we can make the miracle trip to China, but we believe the Lord is opening doors for our prayers to be answered!!
We will need to come up with 35,000 dollars for the hospital stay, treatments, doctor bills, and flight to China because none of this is covered by our medical insurance.
We are asking for any donation you can possibly make towards the miracle of sight for our baby. We want Emmy to know that we did everything possible for her to see the beauty of God’s creations, so she can give the glory to the Lord Jesus and see the faces of the ones who helped answer her prayer.
So, if the Lord lays it on your heart to help, you can send your donation to :
And if times are financially hard for you (we understand), and you are not able to give, would you please remember to Pray for Emmy, for God’s will to be done, and for the Lord to continue to show us His ways.
Thank You, and We pray that the Lord Blesses You!
Elmer & Kristen Latchford
Kenlee and Emmalyn
