Little Girl, 5, In Congestive Heart Failure; Community Helps

SOUTHOLD, NY — Once again, the North Fork community is joining together to help a little girl, just six years old, suffering from congestive heart failure.

According to a GoFundMe page, "Angels for Emily," created by Don Blydenburgh of Southold, Emily Elizabeth was born on June 19, 2012. At only one day old, her pediatrician detected a heart murmur that had not been discovered during pregnancy. They found that Emily was born with two holes in her heart, an ASD and VSD and a coarctation of her aorta. She underwent her first open heart surgery at six days old, the page said.

After only five weeks, Emily's aorta had begun to re-coarct, requiring a second surgery during which the doctors placed a catheter to open her aorta. Following the surgery, Emily suffered complications, including femoral clots and a blood pressure of 185/114, which put her at risk for a stroke, the page said.

Emily's parents, Meghan and Kevin Pruett, brought Emily to Boston Children's Hospital and she has been treated there since she before she turned a year old; for the past five and a half years, she and her parents have traveled from Virginia to Boston every three to six months for monitoring, testing, multiple surgeries for catheters and insertion or inflation of stents in her aorta and femoral arteries, the page said.

"As she grew, Emily, though not always symptomatic, was constantly battling hurdles to enjoy a normal life like her cousins and friends. She is truly a heart warrior and an inspiration to everyone that meets her," the page said.

As of the last appointment in Boston, Emily's heart functioning had declined significantly. At five years old, she was just diagnosed with Stage B congestive heart failure. As a result of her heart condition, Emily has been experiencing significant leg and foot pain due to diminished circulation; her circulation is so poor that her cardiology team could not detect a pulse in her groin or feet, the page said.

Emily will be returning to Boston June 17, just two days before her sixth birthday, for pre-surgery testing and a catheter. She will undergo a very complicated open heart surgery on June 22, the page said.

"Emily has been such a strong and resilient heart warrior, continuing to defy odds and making her family incredibly proud," according to the GoFundMe. "She has endured more than any child should have to, and she is a miracle and blessing to everyone who knows her. Emily is the sweetest soul you could meet."

Emily, "a strong, beautiful girl" and her family need help raising money for the overwhelming expense the travel and surgeries have proven to present.

"Your donation will allow Emily to continue to receive the best care possible and help her parents juggle the weeks they will have to be in Boston this summer," the page said. "This is a hardworking, close-knit and loving family who are doing everything they can to make sure their daughter survives and thrives, despite her severe heart condition. Emily's parents never thought they would be in the position where there would be a need to raise funds for their little girl. The truth is, this could happen to anyone. Any parent knows that they will do anything to give their child the best care when they are sick, and Meghan and Kevin are no different. This family needs our support."

Thoughts and prayers are always so appreciated, friends say: "We don't care what religion you are, all prayers are powerful and heard. We believe they have helped our family and Emily throughout this process."

To donate, click here.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe.