Nine-year-old Emily Bates of Hawley has a way of collecting friends. Perhaps it’s her genuine interest in others, or that tender heart that reaches out with compassion and concern.

“She’s got some kind of a spark in her ...She just loves life. And she’s very caring. If you were upset, she would be worried,” says her mom, Ann “Annie” Austin. “She has a very good outlook, no matter what happens.”  

 Emily, who has cerebral palsy, is to undergo surgery this Tuesday to help straighten her legs. The specialized surgery will be done at Nemours Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. She’s expected to be in the hospital for about a week. “She’s extremely excited. She would like to walk without her walker and without crutches. And that’s her hope. I told her, ‘You’ve just got to believe, and work hard and we’ll get there.’ She’s very strong willed. If you’ve ever met her, she’s not a kid to quit,” says her mom.

A triplet, Emily and brothers: Jared and Austin, were born 13 weeks premature. The eldest of the trio by two minutes, Emily weighed the least at two pounds, two ounces. Their mom remembers how fragile they were back then, spending the first two months of life hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. They made many a trip back and forth to the hospital, to encourage and pray for their babies.

Community cares
They’re a tight knit family. A recent photo of the kids shows four smiling faces. Older brother, Justin, 13, loves and looks after his younger siblings. “He’s just like any other brother. He teases and antagonizes them ...and (he is) very, very helpful with the kids,” Annie says. “They all kind of watch out for each other. They’re very close.”

Though mobility doesn’t come easily for Emily, she’s undeterred. She’s determined to keep up with her brothers, a task made easier by the Wayne-Pike Shrine Club’s generous donation of an electric scooter. “It helps her keep up with the kids. And when she gets tired, it’s wonderful. And with this upcoming surgery, it’s going to be a tremendous asset,” Annie says.

The love Emily shows to others is heartily returned by the community. Not only did the Shriners present Emily with a motorized scooter, they also crowned her Queen of the 17th Annual Wayne/Pike Shrine Bowl in September. A wide smile and sparkling eyes say just how much she appreciated the gesture. Pictures show her beaming into the camera as she was handed the game ball, signed by both the players and cheerleaders. “It really meant a lot ...It was just a wonderful kindness,” Annie says.  

 
It’s from the bottom of her heart that Annie thanks the community for caring. Annie says they’ve come through so many times. She’s humbled and grateful.

When it was found there was a specialized bicycle that Emily could benefit from, one that would allow her to ride like all the other kids, the community, unasked, rallied again. “She gets therapy at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton. They actually had a demo bike there. And we discovered she could actually pedal that,” Annie says. What was it like to see her riding that bike? “I just started to cry ...She was so happy because she could ride a bike like other kids. Emily just wants to do the things that other kids do ...She doesn’t look at herself as limited ability to do anything. But this bike was extremely expensive,” Annie said, costing between $3-$4,000. Amongst those who helped raise money were: the Hawley Volunteer Fire Department, Hawley Ambulance and Rescue, as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Hawley and the Hawley United Methodist Church, where they attend. “It was wonderful, just the kindness of the community,” Annie says.

   “People just fall in love with her,” Annie says. “She’s just touched so many people ... She’s here for a reason ...She just touches people’s hearts”