CHESAPEAKE
Emily Haley, whose battle against cystic fibrosis led the community to raise about $500,000 for a double lung transplant, died early Monday. She was 14.
“She fought this hard until the end,” said her aunt, Patty Grimes.
Family members said that Emily was doing well until a few weeks ago .
“Things took a turn for the worse,” said her father, Bill Haley. “She couldn’t fight an infection.” She died at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk.
Over the past two years, the condition of Emily’s lungs had not deteriorated to the point where she needed the transplant. If she had beaten the infection, she could have flown to St. Louis, Mo., for the operation, Bill Haley said.
The community in 2004 got behind Emily after a thief stole a canister of donations for her operation from a Chesapeake sub shop. After media attention generated by the theft, the Emily’s Breath of Hope campaign raised more than $500,000 in just seven months.
The money raised through auctions, raffles and benefit concerts will now go toward the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to be used as matching funds for other operations.
“Our family can’t thank the community enough,” Grimes said. “They saw a little girl needed their help.”
Bill Haley wanted to ask one more thing of community members: to become organ donors.
Emily enjoyed being with her 12-year-old sister and twin 11-year-old sisters. Despite being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which made it difficult for her to breathe, Emily wanted to dance and play soccer like her sisters. And she did.
“She never wanted to let this keep her back,” Grimes said.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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Emily you will always be an
Emily you will always be an inspiration in my life you never held back weather it be at school in sports you always were a real trooper and always had that big smile and i will never forget the strength you showed through all this.
We're all going to miss the brightness you brought to all of our days~
-Patrick McNally
SWEET EMILY,
May God bless you, and coddle you in the palm of his hand. You're life on earth was a blessing to all of us.
EMILY HALEY
My wife and I have known Bill and his family for many years. Our hearts and prayers go out to them in this time of loss. They are wonderful parents who raised Emily and her siblings in a manner that allowed her to know the love of Jesus and the promise of eternal life. One hundered years from now, when the difference between being 14 and 94 no longer matters, Emily will be just beginning to enjoy her eternal joy! Meanwhile, our hearts ache for the entire family. May you feel His comfort during this difficult time.
This story made a grown man cry.....me.
My wife and I contributed to Emily's fund and we were so optimistic at the time. God bless you Emily, you are truly an angel and you will be missed!
Goodbye, Emily
This girl had more guts than anyone I ever knew. She showed us how to fight, and how to come together and care for each other. The next time life gets us down, we need to take a minute to remember Emily -- the one that should have never had to fight this battle, but never stopped believing.