Heather Lynn Emmert passed away at the age of 29 on Dec. 25, 2014 in Palo Alto due to complications from Cystic Fibrosis.
Heather Lynn Emmert was born in San Jose on July 30, 1985. At eight months old she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Shortly after her diagnosis, her parents John & Sue Emmert and brother Nick moved to Aptos CA where she was raised. During this time Heather encountered hundreds of hospital stays at Lucille Packard Children’s hospital.
As her Cystic Fibrosis started getting worse she decided at age 14 to have a double lung transplant for one reason: To Laugh without Coughing. At 16 years old, Heathers wish came true. She underwent the very risky surgery and recovered with flying colors. However, 6 months after the transplant, her body started rejecting her new lungs. She had what is called Chronic Rejection; her body was rejecting her new lungs.
Her health declined at a very rapid speed to where she was on permanent oxygen, weighed 62 pounds and couldn’t walk a 2-foot distance without having to rest. During this time she was a senior at Aptos High School and all she wanted to do was graduate with her class of 2003. Through all of her hospital stays and missed school, she graduated with honors and attended her graduation even though she was in a wheel chair and on oxygen.
Shortly after graduation, Heather was admitted again to Stanford Hospital. It was during this stay when, she received another gift she was getting new lungs. At 17 years old, Heather underwent a second double lung transplant. Her recovery was not as smooth as the first one. Everything that could go wrong did. She was in the ICU at Stanford for 3 months and on July 4th we were told she was not going to live through the day.
These doctors didn’t know whom they were dealing with. Heather fought through it all and survived the next day and very slowly started getting better. As Heather was very sick in the ICU with a tracheotomy, she met her favorite SF Giants player, Barry Bonds. Heather also celebrated her 18th birthday in the ICU at Stanford and it was quite a celebration! On Oct 31, Heather was finally released to go home. With a new lease on life, Heather started living again.
She went on a 2-week trip to Australia, someplace she always wanted to go. She started taking classes at Cabrillo College & West Valley College in the hopes to fulfill her dream of a college diploma. In 2008, she became a student of Menlo College and got to experience all things college. It was during her first week there she met the love of her life, Landon Gottlieb. On New Year’s Eve 2008 Heather became engaged to Landon. Heather and Landon were committed to each other on August 16, 2009 in a beautiful ceremony. In May 2010, she graduated with Landon and received her coveted Bachelors Degree in Psychology.
She fought many battles with her disease and all the complications from the mounds of medication she had to take, every day. Heather’s kidney started failing and she was forced to have daily dialysis treatments. It was during this time, her family started the testing for Kidney transplant. On Oct 31 2012, Heather received a nice big healthy kidney from her brother Nick. Heathers body accepted the kidney and everything was great! However in mid December 2013, Heather came down with a very bad pneumonia and was hospitalized at Stanford.
This time, her recovery was touch and go and again we thought we would lose her. Pneumonia is something that can kill a Cystic Fibrosis patient. She was in the hospital for several months, and was finally released to go home in February 2014. Her health outlook was not as good. Heather’s lungs of 11 years were rejecting. She was diagnosed with Chronic Rejection again. This kicked Heather into survival mode again and she started reaching out to various hospitals in the hopes of receiving a 3rd Double Lung Transplant. Something that only a hand-full of people have had.
In August 2014, she got her wish with Houston Memorial in Texas. Heather and Landon packed up all of their belongings and moved to Pearland TX. In October 2014, Heather contracted a bad pneumonia again. The transplant team decided she was now too much of a high risk for a 3rd transplant. As she remained in the hospital, on a ventilator by tracheotomy, she never gave up hope. Hope to somehow fight the rejection. On Dec 23 Heather was flown home with her mom via Angel Flight and was taken to Stanford Hospital. It was at this time we learned her fight was very soon to be over because the rejection had taken over her lungs and she would never breath on her own again. On December 25, 2014 surrounded by her family and friends, Heather Lynn Emmert became our own very special Christmas angel.
Throughout Heather’s life, she overcame many great complications from Cystic Fibrosis. Her struggle to live was not easy and was at times for her overwhelmingly painful. Her strong will to beat the odds was a true inspiration to those around her. She inspired many people that didn’t even know her yet knew of her journey.
Even in her darkest times, she kept her funny sense of humor about her. She came up with the best one-liners! I don’t think Heather really understood why people would say she was their hero. She never let her illness get in the way of her goal of living. Yet she was and still is a hero in every sense of the word. Her strong will and determination to beat the odds gave those who know her story so much inspiration to overcome adversity is truly amazing. Her legacy will continue to give strength to all who hold her dear.
When Heather was not in the hospital and healthy she enjoyed several things; She was a die-hard Denver Bronco fan and San Francisco Giants fan. She loved to travel and she got to go to Australia, Hawaii, Mexico and Alaska. She enjoyed camping (to a degree), reading, all things Paul Frank, animals and CANDY!
She is survived by her life partner Landon Gottlieb, her mom Sue Emmert, brother Nick Taylor, nieces Envy, Deity, Savvy Taylor, nephew Keen Taylor, her Grandparents Jim & Nancy McWhorter and many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins.
She is predeceased by her dad, John Emmert, grandparents Jack Emmert and Phyllis Schaffer and Aunt Julie Jacobson.
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In lieu of flowers the family asks for a donation to either www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/heather-s-texas-transplant/219084 OR www.thelivingbreathfoundation.com.