Spunky, tenacious and known for her infectious laugh, Emily Morgan embodied the essence of what it means to love and be loved.
As an energetic and creative girl, she had a knack for making people laugh even if they didn’t know what she was laughing about.
“Laughter was the most important thing to her,” said Mychol Ormandy, her uncle who organizes an annual softball tournament to keep her memory alive and to raise funds for the Emily Morgan Foundation.
“Emily is my hero. She was so full of life and even though she was sick, she didn’t need or want anything. She was always giving of herself,” said Ormandy.
At the age of two, Morgan began to suffer from repeated bouts of pneumonia.
Unable to figure out why, doctors routinely tested her for cystic fibrosis, but the results continually came back negative.
Stumped by her condition, doctors ordered more tests to figure out what was wrong with her, but were unable to pinpoint a cause.
Finally, when she was six years old, doctors decided to test her again and the result was clear: Morgan had cystic fibrosis.
Despite the fact the disease is hereditary, Morgan was somehow born with it and it managed to go undetected for more than six years, causing irreversible damage to her lungs and digestive system. Initial treatments seemed to work, but the damage to her lungs was already done and her condition only seemed to get worse. With few other options, her specialist decided Morgan would need a double-lung transplant, if she were to survive.
In February 2002, at the age of nine, she underwent a double-lung transplant at Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. The operation was a success and it appeared she would make a full recovery.
Despite her hardships, Morgan’s vibrant personality always shone through and attracted the admiration of just about anybody she met. Her story not only inspired those who personally knew her, but also those who came to know her story in the local newspaper in St. Thomas, Ont.
“To be able to walk in her shoes is one of the most amazing things because I’ve done a lot in my life, but I’ve done nothing in my life that compares to what that little girl went through,” said Ormandy.
As a recipient of a successful lung transplant, Morgan urged people to consider signing their donor cards and took every opportunity to raise awareness about the issue.
Each year she celebrated the anniversary of her life-saving operation like it was her birthday, surrounded by those that loved her. Unfortunately she only got to celebrate for four years.
On Nov. 4, 2006, Morgan’s extraordinary life came to an end at the tender age of 14.
In memory of her vibrant life, the ninth annual Emily Morgan Celebration Softball Tourney with a Twist will be held on Aug. 22 at Centennial Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A barbeque and refreshments will also be available.
The annual tournament, which began in Edmonton and moved to Jasper four years ago, is not your average game. Participants are encouraged to dress up and often use frying pans as bats and purses as mitts.
“It’s a ball game you haven’t seen before,” said Ormandy, explaining he will be dressed in drag.
“There are no rules except for what the pitcher decides he wants to do.”
Following the tournament, the Royal Canadian Legion will host a disco themed party based on the cult-classic “Studio 54.”
The party, which includes a silent auction, is expected to start around 7 p.m. and guests are asked to donate $5 at the door.
“All the money raised will go to the Emily Morgan Foundation,” said Ormandy.
To date, the foundation has given 26 monetary gifts to assist families with sick children.
For more information about Morgan or to learn more about the foundation, visit www.emilymorganfoundation.com.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
