In Emma’s Words
Emma believed everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. Sure, some have a few glitches and yet everyone deserves to smile.
Don’t take our word for it. Give Emma a listen.
The Day I Met Emma
Emma changed my life, my outlook and many of my views on just about everything. Emma set me on a course to become a better person, a better father and husband. Emma set me on a path to become a better human being. I write these memories as a keepsake of who I was and who Emma ignited me to become. I write these memories to preserve the light that Emma provided.
The Day I Met Emma
Somewhere in north Tulsa, Oklahoma in the spring of 2003 I sat in our champagne colored Nissan Quest minivan waiting for Marie to come back out of a house that I’d never seen until a few minutes earlier. In the van with me was my nine-year-old son Jake, and...
Blame is Not the Answer
Many of you have watched the story KCTV5 is following regarding mental health care in Kansas and Missouri that features Marie and myself telling Emma's story as best we can. We appreciated Joe Chiodo's efforts with us and his desire to seek answers. Yet, I do want to...
The Dangers of Living a Blessed Life
For those of you in Kansas City who have been following the Kevin Kietzman hullabaloo as I have, well, this is a perfect example of the dangers of living a blessed life. To catch you up to speed, Kevin is a polarizing sports commentator on WHB 810 here in KC. I happen...
Happy Birthday, Emma
Today should be Emma's twenty-first birthday. Oh boy, did she have plans! She was finally going to drink a beer that she liked...never-mind that when we were in Mexico she tried and hilariously turned up her nose to beer, margaritas, pina coladas, etc. In her mind,...
From Tears to a Smile
Last week I stopped by Sweet Tee's Coffee shop in Olathe and when I came back out to start the car the song that was on my Sirrius/XM radio was "Teach me how to Dougie." And that is when I realized that my grief had evolved from reminders making me cry or stop and...
Emmaisms: I NEED A BAND-AID!
You know how kids will associate a Band-Aid with pain relief? I mean, really, by the time you get to the Band-Aid portion of the healing process the pain has already begun to subside, right? Well, our first visit to the pediatrician there in Jenks, OK was quite an...
Emmaisms: Overcoming Her Fear of Water
Our best friends have a swimming pool. Emma used to love to go over and play in the water. She wasn't much of a swimmer and yet you couldn't get her out of the water. I suppose it is because of the freedom of movement she'd gain. Anyhow, I thought you might like...
