Emily’s Story

Her Story: Emily Anne Klopotek was born on October 31st, 1999 (yes, Halloween for those who celebrate!) to Chris and Joe Klopotek in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. From early in her life, she loved being in the water - swimming, splashing, diving for toys, playing mermaids - anything aquatic was right up her alley. She was fiercely independent, but also spent plenty of time with her big sister, Corinne, creating obstacle courses, building forts, and playing outside. As Emily grew older, she showed strong artistic interest and talent. Eventually, she had her very own craft room at home where she made jewelry, paintings, and anything else her heart desired. Emily could spend hours in her craft room, though she took plenty of breaks to spend time with her beloved dog, Max. He was the light of her life, bringing joy to the whole family but maintaining a truly special bond with Emily during their times on Earth. Emily also absolutely LOVED to dance. From taking ballet, jazz, and more at Academie de la Danse to dancing with her dad in the kitchen to classic rock, Emily was always on the move. She also loved exploring - especially collecting shells at Carolina Beach - as well as hiking and baking, all three of which almost certainly came from her mom. As a family, the Klopoteks took trips to Glacier National Park, North Carolina, Bay Beach, and plenty more. They also celebrated holidays as a family with traditions like Easter basket hunts, stocking stuffers, and of course, going trick-or-treating.

Her Struggle: When Emily was just 12 years old, her family started noticing marked changes in her behavior. She was experiencing some peer difficulties in middle school and her eating & exercise habits had shifted. After several months spent trying to understand what was going on so she could get the help she needed, Emily’s parents were told that she was struggling with an eating disorder. While it was helpful to know part of what was going on with Emily, her family hit roadblocks in getting her the support and treatment she needed. Wisconsin Rapids, being a relatively small and somewhat isolated city, lacked the appropriate resources to give Emily the specific care she required. Her parents tried everything possible - every doctor and specialist in the surrounding areas, researching more intensive programming, medications, and more - seemingly taking one step forward and two (or twenty) steps back. However, even insurance denials, missing school and work, and impossible schedules didn’t stop her parents from accessing therapeutic resources. Emily eventually found a therapist that was specialized in both eating disorder treatment/recovery and art therapy, which resonated strongly. Shauna, her therapist, helped Emily immensely and the two developed a formidable bond. During these trying years, Emily had to give up on many things to focus on her recovery. She missed significant periods of school, had to take long breaks from her dance classes, and didn’t get to fully experience high school. Even with all of this on her shoulders, she persisted through several versions of treatment and recovery, studied hard to make up for missed work, and eventually applied, was accepted to, and received scholarships from several universities. After years of suffering and resiliency, she seemed to be on a bright and hopeful path to move forward.