Jessica and I are strangers in that we have never met face to face but we are walking side by side.  Our stories are similar.  Little girls born a couple weeks apart.  Little girls who are stronger than us and have fought harder to live and show us a difference vision of living, not always how we imagined.  We walk side by side in our grief, our joys, our struggles, and loves.  Her posts of her family traveling and LIVING helped inspired me to push our family to do the same.  And yes I cry when its hard.  I know she cries when its hard too.  I say we walk side by side but are strangers because we may not know each other in a neighborly way but I know Jessica and she knows me in a deeply rooted way, only a mother of a daughter like ours know each other.  And with the grace and beauty Jessica and her family walked for the past 4 years handling the ups and downs, they will continue to do the same.  Because all around you are mothers and fathers holding you up, understanding your love and struggle.

Emerie was such a bright and shining star at Reliant. She spent many hours at therapy working hard and always brightened the clinic when she was there. Although I never worked directly with Emerie, I worked close to her for many PT sessions with my patient who was a dear friend of Emerie! I loved seeing them interact and communicate in their own ways. Emerie will always be remembered at Reliant where she was very loved by all of us that got to know her during her years there. I am so sad I was not able to attend her memorial service, but I know her life was celebrated big by all who knew and loved her. Fly high, sweet angel. You will be missed!!

My warmest condolences to the entire family. I pray that God surrounds the entire family with His perfect peace. I also pray that everyone will take comfort in all the wonderful times they had with Sweet Baby Emerie and may Baby Emerie's gentle soul rest in perfect peace. May we all dwell in the blessed hope of seeing her again in Eternity. I ask our Faithful Heavenly Father, all this in Jesus' mighty name, amen and amen!

We never met Emerie, but it feels as if we've known her forever. Between Jessie's honest and insightful posts and the regular updates from Kami and Dave we marveled at her spirit and the challenges she faced with a smile on her face. Always that smile. She obviously felt the love surrounding her.

So sorry for your loss. We love you so very much.

Uncle Kevin & Aunt Kim

Although we never met Emerie in person, we followed her life through the postings of her parents and grandparents, Dave and Kami Neely. The joy expressed in Jessica’s and Daniel’s faces was a constant throughout Emerie’s short life and an inspiration for us.  Our hearts break for you as you walk this tender path of loss.  Love from Aunt Lois and cousin Sherle.

I will always remember Emerie's radiant smile.  No matter her challenges, she always seemed to smile or laugh her way through them, and through her many happy times too.  She clearly felt very loved.  She was truly joyful.
Whenever I see a photo of Emerie, it warms my heart.  I wish I could feel and share joy as she did.  
Jessica and Daniel, what a precious gift you were blessed with these past few years, and what a blessing you were to Emerie.  She could not have been born into a better, more loving family.

Aunt Robin

The day I met Emerie, Feb. 21, 2020, she was a sweet seven-month- old beautiful baby girl with a smile on her face.  As she grew, she faced many challenges on the way, but with determination and a smile on her face.  She was a beautiful child, dark curly hair and her radiant smile.  
Daniel and Jessica took excellent care of her, making her life more of a joy.  She liked being out and about, bright lights and music.
She spent her vacation with her grandparents, parents, Uncle Chris and Aunt Sara and her cousin Bynon.
She will not be forgotten but loved forever by all who knew her.

Grandma Polly

Words cannot express the warmth in my heart when I hold Emerie. I was afraid she was fragile when she was very little, but she showed me she was strong when her little fingers would grip mine so tightly. I knew from then she was blessed with so much strength. My heart would melt when I kiss her cheek or simply talk to her to let her know her Uncle Paul was with her, and she'd smile. With such joy and strength in her, I know she was the best of us and makes heaven that much better.

Though I Never Had Met Sweet Emerie in Person I Developed a Certain Closeness to Her Through  the Many Wonderful Photos and Videos That Jessica and Daniel Shared and by the Memories of the Smiles and Laughter Posted By Her Grandparents Dave and  Kami Neely! Emerie You are an Angel Now So Spread Your Wings and Fly Into Gods Arms! Rest Well Precious One!

My life instantly changed for the better when I had the honor of joining Emerie’s journey as her speech-language pathologist at Reliant Pediatric Therapy. By Jesus’ kindness, I was given the opportunity to come alongside Emerie as she learned new skills to empower her in a world that is quick to assume limitations. Whether our day was filled with singing, dancing, blowing bubbles, making music, going on a walk, snuggling with mom, playing games on Look to Learn, trick-or-treating, or even writing a letter to Santa, I consider my time with Emerie as some of the most precious moments of my career. Emerie’s endless sass kept me on my toes and I can’t help but laugh as I reflect back on just how many times I was on the receiving end of an infamous eye roll. With her contagious laughter and side smile that could light up a room, Emerie radiated pure joy. It’s not often that a 3 year old can teach you more than you can teach them, but Emerie was able to do just that as she effortlessly modeled resiliency, bravery, strength, and loyalty all of her days.  Simply put, to know Emerie was to know Jesus’ love. 
My sweet Emerie, I miss you dearly and will love you always🤍

Some of my all time favorite memories are just seeing Emerie and her parents together. From trips to walk around and play at the park, to Daniel putting Emerie in one of those carriers that allowed him to "walk" for her by moving his legs when her legs were strapped to his, to hearing them explain the expansion of the back patio and how it would give her more room to move around and have outdoor toys that were accessible for her, etc....as a family, they were amazing to watch. Daniel and Jess were the two most devoted parents Emerie could ever ask for. I looked at all of them in awe every time I visited hoping I would find a partner and have a family bond that was as strong as theirs. It was something to watch and learn from, as it was such a strong, caring, giving, loving, through thick and thin type of love.

I loved seeing what Emerie was working on at therapy! Emerie was always learning so much, and Mommy and Daddy had put such a strong team of people who loved Emerie around her to provide her the absolute best care. This video was one of my favorites that I took with her sweet therapist Delaney, as we chatted about Emerie's "Roid Rage" on a day when she was a bit grumpy due to some meds. She gave us the best smile and giggle when we asked her about it haha

The first time Emerie had enough hair for me to braid was so fun! Mommy and Daddy loved seeing it out of her face in a new way, and surprisingly she didn't mind Aunt Brittany braiding it one bit! I know the girls at therapy loved seeing it this way too! From this trip on, I braided her hair as much as I could during our visits :)

Her laugh! Unlike anything else <3 While Mommy and Daddy were way better at getting her to laugh and giggle, I always managed to get a few. From banging on tables to make loud sounds to making loud sounds with my mouth, Emerie loved noises and found them funny :)

I loved playing with Emerie! Jess and Daniel were so amazing at seeing something online or at therapy they thought Emerie might like or might be good for her vision, and then recreating it at home. Going with Jess to stores to look for shiny things Emerie would like looking at against her dark backdrop, looking for strands of lights she could enjoy, or finding toys we could hang that would make sounds like bells and beads.... playing with Emerie was so fun, and it helped me see the world through different eyes-Emeries eyes.

Emerie’s presence could light up a whole room. 
On the days that Emerie and her amazing mom were at Reliant, I made sure to stop by to marvel at her cuteness, or at least wave hello, and that in itself would make my day so much brighter. 
On the days that her permanent therapist was not able to treat her, I would beg to see her and would move my whole schedule around in a heartbeat just to spend time with her! She, unfortunately, didn’t love therapy, as much as we loved working with her, and she would let it be known. I absolutely LOVED the side eyes and faces she would give us in hopes that we would just let her be. She had SUCH a personality! Her smile was beautiful too (she actually let me make her smile just a little bit once during our treatment session, a memory I will hold onto forever).

“Some people can touch your life for a brief moment but will leave an imprint for a lifetime.” - That is Emerie. 

Our little therapy family will not be the same without you Emerie, but I can find peace in knowing that you are up in heaven rejoicing and are now free. 

Prayers for peace and comfort for her amazing parents, family, and all those who deeply loved her.

Living in Chicago, much of our time with Emerie was enjoyed during the hustle of the holidays or meeting on family vacations full of exploration. With that as the most prominent backdrop, I’ve always appreciated the quiet moments we spent together. That is of course saying a lot as, observed by others, Emerie’s laugh is one of the most unfettered expressions of joy I’ve ever heard. But play time on the rug in her living room while we people-watched Thanksgiving prep turn to mild chaos, a check-in on her correspondence with Minnie Mouse on her tablet or the soft smile she always gave when I’d hold her hand as I talked with her about our current trip will always be held closest.

Emerie, I am so proud to be your uncle and so thankful for every moment we shared, no matter the volume.

Although I never met Emerie in person my Brother David sent me lots of pictures and told me many stories of his granddaughter. This picture of Emerie,  with her beautiful eyes and mischievous smile told a story all by itself.

❤️🙏🏽
Great Uncle Bob

I’m very sorry for your loss.
I now work in a Special Needs class down the hall from Emeries  classroom  so only got to see her lately when we went to music together.
Before that, we were all together in one classroom and I got to see the occasional smile and her beautiful eyes.
My fondest memory is on the last time that she joined us for music.
I looked over at her and  got to experience her big full  smile and hear her  laugh. I asked her Buddy, “Did you see that?”.  She told me yes, but having experienced it before wasn’t as amazed as I was. 
When we were both home from church, I was still excited when I described it to my wife,.
It’s comforting to know that whatever thought or dream that caused that beautiful smile and laugh is now her everyday in Heaven.

Emerie will always be my little birthday twin, my temporary roommate during the 2021 Great Freeze of Texas when she lost power at her house, and my precious photography model. What true joy she will continue to bring to my heart. Daniel and Jessica, your love and dedication for each other and for Emerie with your strong faith in our Lord are truly inspiring. These pictures are just a "few" of my favorites of this beautiful girl!

I only had the pleasure of meeting Emerie once while visiting the family in 2022. She was just as vibrant, sweet, and smiley as so many have mentioned. Although our time together was short, I had the honor to speak with her mom for hours every week about how special, loved, and brave she was.  It always made me laugh that this very bright little girl would pretend to sleep at some of her therapy sessions because she probably thought it was boring or too much work (lol she was a kid after all). I remember when she got her vision computer and was learning to communicate with her eyes- what a huge accomplishment! And when she started school last fall, her mommy was so apprehensive about the unknown. Emerie was not only welcomed, but the other children rejoiced in her presence and were excited to have her with them. She really did make such a huge impact to those who knew her.  Recently, one of the most distinct memories that was shared with me was when the family took a small trip to the Hoover Dam. Jessica told me how much Emerie loved the sounds and enjoyed the trip. She really had an appetite for life. She experienced the world differently than most, but I'm looking forward to hearing her stories one day in Heaven. She is one of Gods precious gifts to this Earth. I will always hold her in my heart and keep her memory alive for all of my days. I love you Emerie. I'm so proud to be your auntie. Jessica and Daniel, just know you are the greatest parents I know. Your commitment to God, family, and to your precious angel is unparalleled. I pray for you both and know that you are not alone in this.

I didn’t get to spend much time with Emerie but when they started coming to Kingsland, her gorgeous and infectious smile caught my eye immediately!! I was drawn to her- she had the most beautiful curly black hair, a smile that lit up the room and just radiated joy!! What a blessing to have had the opportunity to know her! My heart completely broke when I heard the news. And while I know she is now whole and living absolutely free with Jesus, my heart physically hurts for Jessica and Daniel. You are in my prayers, may you both feel the peace of God during this time.

Praying for strength for you Jess and Daniel. We cannot even imagine your pain but God knows best. Emerie is healed on the other side and heaven just got a. Smiling Angel.
I just remember her big smile whenever you are taking your walk with her, one would never have guessed she was going through all she went through with that big smile.
May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family and May you have the grace to praise God in this storm🙏🏾🙏🏾

Emerie was such a sweet joy, and found great pleasure being out and about. Her smiles and laughter lit up my heart. I loved the way her little, lopsided smile would pop up a few seconds after she saw or heard something she liked. Her eyes sparkled when she smiled. 
I’m going to miss my bestie. I love you, Emerie Lynne.

It was a joy to know Emerie and watch her grow over the years. Reliant will not be the same without her. May you find peace and comfort in knowing Emerie touched so many lives. She will be missed by so many.

Emerie's smile lit up the entire special needs wing at church. I always looked forward to seeing your sweet girl. She will be SO missed by us all. I promise you this - we will NEVER EVER forget your precious Emerie. Her name and joyous personality will live on in our family forever. We commit to talking about her and keeping her alive in our home. We stand with you during this awful time of pain and heartbreak. We rejoice that she is in heaven with our Jesus, BUT we hurt and ache with you now, in this in-between.

Love, Brittnie, Brandon, Clara, and Camille Blackburn

Emerie was such an innocent angel. Little sunshine. The joy she brought to everyone will never be forgotten. Her smiles got me everytime. Her hairstyles were the cutest. I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Out whole family grieves along with you.

I always looked forward to the pictures of Emerie dressed so cute and stylish and the videos of her laughter and enjoying the moment.  Love to you all!!

We loved our cousin time! I remember so many special moments with Emerie like when she and Benjamin would lay down on the activity playmat together as littles & when they matched socks on Valentine's Day, when she and Ethan held hands & watched cartoons together, dancing & enjoying live music, laughing over Super Wings together, meeting Baby Gabby, and yes, becoming Benjamin's biggest fan! :D As the kiddos grew, birthday parties and holiday get-togethers became full of noise and laughter, often the louder, the better, it seemed. Just a bunch of happy kids!

Sweet Emerie, precious niece, I absolutely loved watching you grow into such a lovely little girl. Your determination was unmatched, and I love how you would just burst into laughter. It was my reminder to live joyously in the present. And I cannot get over your beautiful smile (this photo is still one of my favorites)! You loved so big and we will always love you!

The JOY of the LORD is my strength.

Right after this we all sat on the floor and played with her and her toys. The next morning we all went to brunch and talked about how much she seemed to love the music ♥️

I never had the chance to meet Emerie in real life, but knew her through the beautiful posts and pictures of her smiley self shared by Jessica. I was shattered to hear of her sudden passing.  I envision her now, flying free in the heavens above, alongside the rest of our HIE babies gone too soon. <3

Dear Emerie, Thank you for being Inka's best friend. I wish I had taken more pictures so I could show all the sweet memories we have with you. We loved going to the museum and to breakfast with the Easter bunny with you, and all those times when Inka and you played during therapy. You will always live in our hearts, sweet girl.

Some of my favorite moments spent with Emerie were music time at church! She loved playing the hand bells and rhythm sticks. The louder and noisier, the better in her book! 
I also remember her dad and uncle playing the ukulele and guitar at her 2nd birthday party to fit the luau theme, which she loved. She loved playing instruments with her mom and dad regularly at home, and they’d switch them out for fun- tambourine, maraca, drums, and more! The best family band! Emerie was always up for a great time with friends and family, spreading joy with her contagious laugh and side smile!

My husband and I were blessed to have met little Emerie at church with her grandparents  Gloria & Jesse and Daniel & Jessica.  Our fondest memory was that beautiful smile ! It just lit up a room!  Love and joy just flowed thru her in spite of all the obstacles she faced with her health.  Heaven has truly received a beautiful Angel 😇 and we know she is healed and whole, laughing with our Lord Jesus !  May God’s loving arms be wrapped around each of you as you walk this very difficult path and give you His comfort, peace and strength. .. ✝️🙏💜

I am so sorry to hear about Emerie. Her sweet smile brought such joy to me whenever I saw her pictures. You were the best amazing parents for her and she knew how incredibly loved she was. I am happy to hear she has a little sister coming that will grow up hearing all about her amazing big sister. She will always be remembered.  Sending you guys so much love and strength.

Emerie, the best girl ever, never failed to light up a room and make everyone laugh and smile. My favorite memory with her happened during a Parents Day Out. My son was playing with her and she started in on her contagious giggle. He couldn't get enough! He spent the next hour doing whatever he could to keep her laughing and smiling. I love that Emerie made friends wherever she went, even without words. God gifted Emerie with the gifts of joy, friendship, and love.

Emerie brought immeasurable hope and love and light to the world, and that will continue forward in a legacy that was created with her two incredible parents who helped clear the path for her to shine, show others what enjoying life looked like and encouraged others to find that same joy, even with difficult circumstances. I will remember her and cherish her memory forever. She and I also shared a birthday, and I will raise a toast to Emerie, with the vision that she is with my mom, who is taking care of all of our HIE children until that day comes when we are all reunited. Sending much love and support from our family, the Hope for HIE board of directors and the entire Hope for HIE community.

Our family was incredibly blessed and thankful to know Emerie. Emerie and Colton met at therapy and became kindred spirits. Along with spending time together at therapy, they had many “dates.” Everyone at therapy, including Jessica and myself, always said Emerie and Colton would be boyfriend and girlfriend. They would feed off of each others’ energy; if one was smiling and laughing, the other was as well. Their friendship was something one would wish to be lucky enough to have. Emerie will always hold a special place in our hearts. We will miss her dearly.

I remember taking stroller walks when our girls were real little. And Emerie sharing her first Halloween with us! Y’all always had such adorable family costumes and she was the cutest little Piglet. Dorothy was definitely my favorite with her little Toto in tow!

I will forever remember hearing her adorable laugh when we came to visit around Christmas time of 2021. Her smile was beautiful!

Another family favorite memory is when we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary at our favorite mexican restaurant.  
There was live entertainment present.  As music began playing, Emerie slowly began to squirm and wiggle around in her chair, her arms and legs moving in sync with the music.  She was in fact dancing in her chair and we were all excited to watch her having a good time.

One of our favorite memories occurred earlier this year.  We all went to eat breakfast for Daniel's birthday.
Benjamin (cousin) walked over to Emerie and began telling her little jokes.  Without missing a beat , Emerie laughed right on cue after he finished each joke.  This went on for a few minutes as we all watched in amazement.  It's like they somehow had their own little  conversation between them.  It's evident by looking at the picture.
We will never forget how happy Emerie was at that moment.

Emerie was my buddy from the day she was born. We bonded over our shared love of fashion & exercises - here we are doing planks on vacation in Arkansas. My favorite memory with her is from this trip. Emerie was having trouble sleeping & Jess & Daniel  needed a break. So I took her & bundled her up all cozy & got a big throw pillow & held her. She fell right to sleep. I must have held her like that for at least an hour & every time I looked down, she’d snuggled herself just a little bit closer to me. I remember her precious angel baby face, with those long eyelashes & those perfect curls, & feeling so lucky & honored that she felt comfortable enough to fall asleep in my arms. Needless to say, I didn’t want to give her back, but everyone kept saying she “needed a diaper change” & “should probably eat.” Ya know, silly stuff like that. So I reluctantly returned her to her parents. We still hung out for the rest of the trip.

Emerie, you are unforgettable. Your giggle makes my heart jump for joy. No one will EVER be a better exercise buddy than you & no one will EVER look better in yellow than you. Thank you for being such a good big cousin to Bynon - he will love you forever. I’m so glad we got to spend so much time together this past month. Love you big, my babe.

Emerie had one of the best nights of her life, when we got together to eat at Celaya's with some DJ music. She really enjoyed the atmosphere, the colors, and most importantly, the music! She really enjoyed Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena. She was out on the dance floor with her cousins having a blast. Most memorable of all is when she got to share a dance with her daddy.

I also remember Emerie laughing pretty hard at some of Benjamin's jokes and stories at Black Bear Diner.

She was quite the traveler, going on many trips w/ her mom and dad. We always enjoyed the photos of her adventures.

Emerie had some of the best family costumes for Halloween. Pebbles Flintstone was a fav and Mirabel from Encanto was spot on!

I am so grateful I was lucky enough to know Emerie practically her whole life as her Occupational Therapist. I spent every week with her and it was my absolute favorite. She was joy and love. She made us laugh every single session, whether it was just hearing her laugh or her being her typical spunky self during therapy. Myself and the entire Reliant family will miss her constantly and her presence will always be felt.

We never got to meet sweet Emerie in person but connected through Hope for HIE for the better part of the last 3 years. I loved seeing Emerie’s smile it truly made my day each time. She will be greatly missed and we will think of her often ❤️. 
Love,
 Hope & Logan

This is how I will remember Emerie. This was July 7 in Grand Teton NP. She was on a boat dock with us (grandma and grandpa) while her parents,  uncle and aunt went for a hike.  She just laughed and smiled continuously at the joy of being out in creation and watching her cousin Bynon do his best to move around the dock space. She was a joy to know in spite of and perhaps because of her many challenges.  I thank God for allowing me the great joy of being her grandpa.

OBITUARY

Emerie Lynne Castanon

July 31, 2019 – July 19, 2023

Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery

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