{"id":12871,"date":"2026-08-06T15:15:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T15:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=12871"},"modified":"2026-08-06T15:15:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T15:15:43","slug":"parents-lose-6-year-old-daughter-after-what-was-supposed-to-be-a-routine-procedure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=12871","title":{"rendered":"Parents lose 6-year-old daughter after what was supposed to be a \u2018routine\u2019 procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net\/v\/t39.99422-6\/767222490_1622749532769539_6681506553858744399_n.png?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&amp;cstp=mx1072x1340&amp;ctp=s1072x1340&amp;_nc_cat=103&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=ZzWQ5yshGfcQ7kNvwEsTzO1&amp;_nc_oc=Adr58A6yxXXpLyULxQgaSYO2lX4r-ba378wgx9F97rqZy-PqpbThYLz7VhrtHf1jd04&amp;_nc_zt=14&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&amp;_nc_gid=Z1vWG1WDosGel24QAtmY7g&amp;_nc_ss=7b2a8&amp;oh=00_AQHFej1tL4mmjBDKigSrLnpHeYQFgYDopS1RpInGB4BMnQ&amp;oe=6A7A607F\" alt=\"May be an image of text that says 'Rest in Peace Emersyn &quot;Emmy&quot; Bridgers 2020-2026'\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are some phone calls no parent, sibling or family should ever have to receive.<\/p>\n<p>Emersyn \u201cEmmy\u201d Bridgers was only 6 years old. She had just celebrated kindergarten graduation, was excited about starting first grade and had already picked out a rose-themed outfit for the new school year.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-180470491\" class=\"aek21-article2\"><\/div>\n<p>Then, on July 27, everything changed.<\/p>\n<p>Emmy had gone to the hospital for what her family understood to be a routine tonsillectomy. But according to authorities, the scheduled surgery ultimately did not take place. The little girl died that afternoon, leaving her family devastated and investigators searching for answers, according to WSBTV.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-2697190706\" class=\"aek21-article3\"><\/div>\n<p>Bartow County Coroner Joel Guyton said medical records are being reviewed to determine what treatment Emmy received before her death. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an autopsy.<\/p>\n<div class=\" entry-content single-content\">\n<p>At this point, officials have not said what caused Emmy\u2019s death or indicated that a tonsillectomy complication was responsible.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-1096247449\" class=\"aek21-article4\"><\/div>\n<p>But for her family, the questions are almost impossible to comprehend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have so many questions, and so many emotions,\u201d Emmy\u2019s sister, Jordan Thompson, wrote in a Facebook tribute.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-265663211\" class=\"aek21-article5\"><\/div>\n<p>Known as \u201cLittle Momma\u201d<br \/>\nJust weeks before her death, Emmy proudly celebrated her kindergarten graduation from Euharlee Elementary School.<\/p>\n<p>Her teacher, Mrs. Rose, had given her the loving nickname \u201cLittle Momma\u201d because of the way she looked after the people around her.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-105107946\" class=\"aek21-article6\"><\/div>\n<p>The Bartow County School System remembered Emmy as a child who cared deeply about others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven at such a young age, she had a special way of looking after others, making everyone feel included, and lending a helping hand whenever she could.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-2432468130\" class=\"aek21-article7\"><\/div>\n<p>Emmy was already looking forward to first grade and was especially excited about seeing Mrs. Rose again.<\/p>\n<p>She had even chosen a rose-themed outfit for Open House.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-3419560558\" class=\"aek21-article8\"><\/div>\n<p>Now, that little outfit will remain unworn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the days before a new school year begins, it is especially difficult to imagine her seat empty and that outfit left unworn. Please join us in keeping the Bridgers family in your thoughts and prayers during this heartbreaking time,\u201d the school district said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"aek21-3400292913\" class=\"aek21-display4\"><\/div>\n<p>The district also remembered Emmy as a little girl who \u201cnever met a stranger,\u201d describing her as someone who loved freely, gave hugs and carried a smile that could brighten a room.<\/p>\n<p>Her sister\u2019s heartbreaking goodbye<br \/>\nAfter Emmy died, Jordan shared a deeply emotional tribute to the little sister she described as her best friend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYesterday was the worst day of our entire lives\u2026 it feels like a horrible dream that we are stuck in. Emersyn went to be with Jesus yesterday afternoon, and we can not wrap our heads around it. She was only 6 years old\u2026 she didn\u2019t even get a real chance at life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jordan said that despite the unbearable pain, she found some comfort in knowing how much happiness Emmy brought into her short life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m so hurt, but I also find peace knowing she lived the HAPPIEST six years possible. She was always smiling and always pouring kindness into those around her. She had the most beautiful big brown eyes, a laugh that was contagious, and a heart bigger than the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She continued:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m happy she never truly had to witness the evil of this world. She was too pure. I\u2019m sure she\u2019s up there catching up with daddy and in the arms of Jesus, but selfishly I wish she was still here with us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jordan described the bond they shared as sisters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was my best girl, I took her everywhere with me. She wanted to be just like her big sissy. I was even given the blessing to name her; Emersyn Paisleigh Bridgers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A family already carrying grief<br \/>\nThe tragedy came at an especially painful time for Emmy\u2019s family.<\/p>\n<p>Just one day before Emmy\u2019s death, her mother, Abigail McKenzie Street, had shared a post mourning the death of Emmy\u2019s father, Zachery.<\/p>\n<p>She reflected on the little traits Emmy had inherited from him, including his laugh, smile and other unmistakable features.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of my daughter\u2019s quirks that she inherited, being sly, her crazy laugh when she gets too wound up, her wide grin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also wrote:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer naturally puffy little eyes, her sick sense of humor, a tan I\u2019ll ALWAYS envy, her big feet, her beautiful little nose, her natural ability to captivate people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, the family is facing another loss that is almost impossible to put into words.<\/p>\n<p>The community is standing beside Emmy\u2019s family<br \/>\nAs investigators continue working to understand what happened, the community has rallied around the Bridgers family.<\/p>\n<p>A GoFundMe was established to help the family through the devastating loss. Alvis Miller &amp; Sons Funeral Home has offered to cover the costs of Emmy\u2019s burial, allowing donations to instead go toward supporting her loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>The community has also organized a special biker escort for Emmy\u2019s final journey, with supporters encouraged to \u201cpink it out!\u201d in her honor.<\/p>\n<p>But perhaps the most powerful tribute comes from the people who knew Emmy best \u2014 the people who will now have to walk into a new school year without the little girl who was supposed to be sitting in that classroom.<\/p>\n<p>Jordan ended her tribute with words that capture both the heartbreak of losing Emmy and the enormous impact the 6-year-old had on her life:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou saved me in so many ways. You encouraged me to wear my heart on my sleeve more than I already do. To love loudly and forgive easy. To laugh every chance you get, and never turn down a sweet treat!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI miss you so so much. Thank you for being you. I wish I could have saved you, but I promise to stay strong for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then, one final promise:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing your sister will always be my greatest blessing. And I just know you\u2019re the prettiest angel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At only 6 years old, Emmy never got the chance to see what first grade would bring, to grow up, or to discover all the things her future might have held.<\/p>\n<p>But to the people who loved her, she left something behind that cannot be measured in years \u2014 a lifetime of memories, kindness and love packed into six short years.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re sending all our strength, love, and prayers to Emmy\u2019s family and the entire community during this heartbreaking time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are some phone calls no parent, sibling or family should ever have to receive. Emersyn \u201cEmmy\u201d Bridgers was only 6 years old. She had just celebrated kindergarten graduation, was &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12871"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12872,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12871\/revisions\/12872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}