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Emma-Leigh Chambers-Allen- Champion Child
 In June of 2004 Emma was doing what all children do, playing and enjoying the summer in her yard in Los Chavez, New Mexico. In the blink of an eye, Emma’s life changed when the neighbor’s chained up dog attacked her.
Emma’s injuries were so severe that she was rushed to the Trauma Center at UNM Hospital. By the time Emma had arrived to the hospital she had lost more than 60 percent of her blood supply from the numerous injuries all over her head and neck. She had damage to the main nerve on the right side of her face, and skin that had been torn off in numerous places. In addition, she had a large tear from her ear all the way down to her chin, part of her eyelid had been torn off, and her jaw had been dislocated and fractured in several places. It took more than 200 stitches to repair the damage.
Emma’s mother said “…I am so impressed at how the team of physicians were able to put her back together…like a puzzle, it is amazing.”
Now, nearly two years after the attack, Emma is back to playing with her cousins and enjoying being a kid. She still sees physicians at UNM Hospitals to care for a tear duct that was damaged during the attack along with future plastic surgery to repair certain areas on her face.
This beautiful girl was selected as the 2006 Ambassador for the state of New Mexico and UNM Hospitals for the Champions Across America Program, a Children's Miracle Network program
Recent legislation has been passed against vicious dogs. Emma and her family were present at the signing of the bill. |
