Page 86 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2019

HEART MONTH faith hope love
Emma Hartley, see more of her
in the Wedding section
Little Cover Model Now Age 10
and Doing Great
story by Lynn Lofton photo by Dara Parker
When four-year-old Emma Hartley was a cover model for South Mississippi Living in February 2013, she was quite a character in spite of the four heart surgeries she had undergone. Six years later at age 10, she is still lively and full of energy.
She can not participate in contact sports but has plenty of other activities, including swimming, roller skating and making craft projects that she enjoys.
To update Emma’s condition: “She is doing well but will require lifelong surgery,” her mom Lisa Northrup said. “Her doctor says her heart looks good.”
Emma was born without a
pulmonary valve — the valve
that pumps blood from the lungs.
This valve was replaced with a
donor valve, which will not
grow as she grows. “Science
has come a long way and
we have bene tted greatly
from the American Heart
Association research,” Northrup added. “She also has to have a stomach procedure that goes along with the heart surgery; the most recent was last October.”
Now that she’s older, this heart patient wants to contribute to the funding that makes heart research possible. Last year for the rst time, Emma and her mom made some special boards and sold them online. The board features a heart symbolizing
love, a heart beat and a cross. “We are getting an earlier start this year and hope to raise more money,” Northrup, who was the top heart fundraiser
when she worked for Hancock Bank, said. “It’s cool to give back.”
For her efforts, Emma has been recognized in the Congressional Record in the nation’s capital.
“She was nominated and presented on the oor of the House of Representatives by Congressman
Steven Palazzo,” Northrup said. “Usually children do not receive this honor.”
A student at Lizana Elementary School, Emma says math is her favorite subject because “it ts me; I’m a critical thinker.” She also likes playing school with her four siblings and she’s always the teacher. “I want to be a teacher; I like talking to kids,” she said. To which her mother quickly said, “You like to talk to anyone.”
86 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2019
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Emma Hartley (far right) on the cover of South Mississippi Living from February 2013
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