CO - Emma Leilani Judy Bennetts Holmes passed away at home in her parents' arms the evening of October 29, 2025, from acute myeloid leukemia. We were so very fortunate to have her for 23 years.

Emma was born with a full head of red hair on May 28, 2002, in Seattle (Burien), Washington, by emergency c-section when she had no heartbeat or movement on her due date. After a week, she was taken off life support with the tenuous goal of making it home to die, but despite physical and cognitive impediments, she survived and thrived. Two weeks before passing, a genetic study finally showed that those impediments were due to mRNA splicing issues.

Emma was a happy, jolly girl with an infectious giggle and big belly laugh. She woke up every single morning with a smile, even in her last months when she was in great pain. She loved to kick her legs in her bouncy chairs and rock them until the frames snapped. She loved going on walks, playing with musical and spinning toys, and swimming, which she began as a baby.

Most of all, Emma loved music and listened to it continually - children's songs, old-time ballads, and patriotic music. She loved songs recorded by her mom and adoptive dad into her toys. Emma also loved funny noises and sound effects, and delighted in being told "YAY for Emma! Yay yay yay!"

When she was three, Emma moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. Emma craved routine and consistency, and would let you know if you varied. She loved standing in her stander and playing with toys, tearing it up in her beloved jungle gym, swimming, attending therapy (usually), walking in her gait trainer, riding in her bike trailer, and doing adapted horse riding. Emma loved bathtime, towel time, and her bedtime routine. After an hour of cuddling she would sign "Good night," "I love you," and "You're cute."

Emma travelled across the U.S. and to Alaska, Canada, and Asia many times. She travelled in small boats, cruise ships, ferries, trains, subways, planes, taxis, RVs, and OTVs. She loved motion and delighted in airplane turbulence, earthquakes, and sudden braking. She loved being outside.

Emma was silly, spunky, sassy, snarky, sly, stubborn, and smart, so very smart. She understood a great deal and would lift her left arm to say "yes" or "more," and right arm to say "no." She communicated with nuanced vocalizations and insisted on "talking" on the phone with her mom and adoptive dad if they were gone. She tried to get therapists to play the "I'm/You're cute" game instead of exercising. Emma loved to explore by chewing on things and pushing things onto the floor.

When Emma was 20, her new house had a ceiling track system, and she loved running around in a harness like a typical kid. She was a regular on the pathway systems, taking long daily walks with her dog. But by the time Emma turned 23, she wanted cuddles and sleep instead of therapy. She was so brave and tough and courageous.

Emma was a very special human being, whose passing leaves an unimaginable void for her mom, Heather Marie Judy (Holmes) Bennetts and her adoptive step-dad, Steven Anthony Bennetts; they loved Emma more than life. She also leaves behind special friends Cindy and John Custer.

Emma's biological father was Stephen G. Holmes and her little half-brother was TeJay Holmes. She will be met on the other side by sister Brandy Bennetts.

Emma's wonderful health would not have been possible without the dedicated therapists in her early years at Children's Therapy Center, including Gay Lloyd Pinder and Barb, and Denise Mahut with the Elks Therapy Program.

Emma's long life would not have been possible without her caring providers, including Dr. Kenneth Dong and everyone at Southwest Pediatrics; everyone at Seattle Children's Hospital, and other providers who made her visits and life so much better. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who touched Emma's life every day. Please know that your presence DID make a difference and was greatly appreciated. These acts of kindness and inclusion were so very important to us.

In lieu of donations to a charity, please take time to directly support disadvantaged children and their families by anonymously paying student lunch bills, medical bills, utility bills, any bills. Make an effort to include kids who are different or from chaotic homes. Befriend a special adult. Send an anonymous gift to single parents of special children, who may never receive a Mother's Day bouquet or Father's Day socks. Volunteer with disadvantaged children and special needs adults. Practice the A's that made such a difference in Emma's life: ask, allow, accommodate, and acknowledge.

Emma was cremated and her ashes will be scattered in the ocean that she loved to walk along. In lieu of a service, a memorial video will be shared later on. Condolences may be sent directly to her family at 3132 Chase Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 or in care of Goes Funeral Home.