News Emma\'s mom: We need a miracle

For the second night in a row, Aimee Redlinger sat beside a hospital bed at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, feeling the love of support of family, friends and an entire community as she prays for a miracle.

Emma, age 14, the daughter of Aimee Redlinger and Steve Redlinger, was visiting friends in Vinton when she was accidentally shot by a young man on Tuesday night. Her mom, at that time was just returning home on a flight from Atlanta, after an unexpected delay of several hours.

On Tuesday afternoon, the neurologists gave the Redlinger family the devastating news that Emma may not wake up.

Along with updates as she hears them from the doctors, Aimee has been posting photos of Emma doing her favorite things.

“Those pictures all tell a great story of who my girl is,” says her mom.

Now a freshman at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, Emma was an honor roll student at VS Middle School, and earned a ride in a limousine for being one of the students who sold 10 or more magazine subscriptions on the first day of the fund-raiser in 2011. In a story she wrote as a 6th-grader for the Junior Journalist program, she said she her pets included a dog and a mouse, and her favorite food is potatoes, which she wrote that she would eat “any way but raw.”

Emma has also participated in the annual Party in the Park Medallion Hunt, and found the medallion hidden in Veterans Park, earlier in 2011. 

Aimee’s Facebook wall is full of the well-wishes and prayers of friends, neighbors, classmates and relatives, and many photos of Emma sharing laughs and making memories with her friends.

Aimee continues asking for prayers for her daughter as neurologists continue to assess the damage caused by the bullet and to try to control the swelling of her brain and other effects of the shooting.  She said she would post an update after speaking to the neurology team later today.

“I know everyone is concerned and praying,” says Aimee. “I can't tell you how much the support and prayers of the entire community have touched us and given us hope. Emma is a bright light in this dark world and a beautiful soul that leaves a mark on everyone she meets. At this point there is no change in her condition. We continue to sit with her, talk to her and let her know how much she is loved. We need a miracle so please just continue to pray and ask all you know to do the same.”

Thursday afternoon update:

After speaking with Emma's doctors on Thursday, Aimee shared this update:

"Nothing to really report. Emma continues to be stable but no change in her overall condition. We're told that peak swelling in the next 24 hours could create instability.The love and support from everyone gives us hope. I read and treasure each and every one of the heartfelt messages I've received. I see all the FB posts, many of which I'm reading to Emma and I love the pictures. There are people all over the world praying and she feels the love."

A fund-raising page had already raised more than $8,000 from 184 donors by Thursday evening. See that page HERE.