It’s a sea of red at Oak View. A special tribute to a special DCG preschooler. Emma Stoecken is a 7th grader at Oak View and the proud big sister of preschooler Josie.
“When she meets new kids she’s so excited,” says Emma. “She says hi. She’s definitely an extrovert.”
But Josie’s journey to preschool has not been easy.
“She had a birth diagnosis of Down Syndrome and had heart defects,” shares Emma. “Josie was born with CHD.”
Congenital Heart Disease had little Josie in and out of operating rooms and left a nervous big sister looking on.
“At first it was really scary because I was young and didn’t have an understanding of what that stuff was,” shares Emma. “Especially because it was a birth diagnosis and it was nerve-wracking, I thought is she going to be OK?”
That’s a tough question to ask for everyone, no matter their age. Through all of the emotions, Josie, Emma and the Stoecken’s rose above.
“There was a moment in time before her heart surgery where we didn’t know if things would go smoothly,” says Emma. “It did and that turned on a light and made me very grateful.”
The light has now turned into something even bigger. Not only is Josie thriving in preschool at DCG. Big sis Emma had a big idea at Oak View. Emma reached out to Oak View Principal Joan Cundif asking if Wednesday, February 14 could be Wear Red Day at Oak View.
“I was just like I have to do this,” she said. “It’s something that means so much to my family and other families.”
A sea of red support showing love to someone most of these students have never met. But as Emma says, the youngest person in this story is the one doing most of the teaching.
“I’ve learned so many things from her. It’s helping me through my life so much.”