Meet Emma and Tay from Kaukauna

Emma and Tay were both fostered and eventually adopted by their parents, Mandy and Jeremy. Emma loves the beach, swimming, boat rides, and spending time with her family. Tay enjoys watching all sports, riding horses, fishing, swimming, and playing with cars and trucks. While in the womb, Emma suffered two strokes and then a third shortly after she was born. She was sent home on hospice, survived, and was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy and an aggressive form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, among many other diagnoses. Tay was born with both of his femurs not fully developed, a condition known as proximal femoral focal deficiency, as well as Pierre Robin sequence, a deformity of the jaw. After he was born at a hospital in Green Bay, he was airlifted to the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital where he spent time in the NICU and PICU.

Emma and Tay see more than a dozen specialists at Children’s Wisconsin, including many at the Appleton Clinic. The family’s focus for Emma is comfort and quality of life, while their focus for Tay is independence and functionality. Medicaid has been an essential part of both of their journeys. It has provided a vast amount of opportunities medically, in the form of therapies, medications, surgeries and procedures, and equipment for them to have a fulfilling life and be thriving like they are today. Their family is extremely grateful.

Please keep Medicaid strong for kids like Emma and Tay!