A Miracle of Resilience and the Power of “I Got This”

Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King welcome a truly inspiring mother-daughter duo to Raising Joy: Emerson Bucci and her mother, Ashlee. In an episode that celebrates the power of the human spirit, they share Emerson's incredible journey of survival and recovery.

In August 2024, at just 12 years old, Emerson faced a very rare and life-threatening allergic reaction to the common antibiotic Bactrim. Her lungs were severely compromised, leading to a 36-day stay in the ICU at Cook Children's and being placed on ECMO life support.

Tune in to hear:

·         The terrifying process of searching for a diagnosis, the family’s emergency transfer, and the very real possibility of a lung transplant.

·         How Emerson, despite being on life support, remained fully awake and even did schoolwork.

·         The inspiring story behind Emerson's life-affirming catchphrase, "I got this," which became the family's mantra and even inspired a special tattoo.

·         Emerson’s deep faith and remarkable maturity in viewing her ordeal as "temporary".

·         How this experience has inspired Emerson to pursue a future career as a physical therapist to help others walk their own road to recovery.

This conversation is a powerful testimony to family love, perseverance, and the miracle of hope.

What is Raising Joy?

Raising Joy is part of Cook Children’s Joy Campaign, which aims to encourage hope and resilience among children and teens. Cook Children’s Health Care System is located in Fort Worth, Texas and has seen the mental and emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on children and their families. In this podcast, hosts Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc explore topics of anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and suicide in order to bring hope and needed resources to struggling children and families. Raising Joy is produced by the public relations team at Cook Children’s. The theme music was created by Raymond Turner from the Sparklefly Recording Studio at Cook Children’s.

Disclaimer: The opinions and advice provided by our guests are not endorsed by Cook Children’s. If you
or someone you know are struggling, please reach out for professional help. Cook Children’s has a list of crisis contact information for youth and families on its website: cookchildrens.org/joy.

Executive Producer:
Winifred “Wini” King