Emma-Jane LaVerne Wells, daughter of Shelten and Erin Wells, was born Saturday, April 10, 2021, in the American Fork Hospital. She surprised her mom and dad by coming five weeks early at a tiny 4 pounds 4 ounces. On Sunday, April 11, she was diagnosed with jejunal atresia and was transferred to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. Emma-Jane had her first surgery on Monday, April 12. It was anticipated she would have one more surgery in the middle of June before being ready to come home.
For three weeks, Emma-Jane gained strength and her health and abilities increased. She loved being held and spent many hours in her mom and dad’s arms. On the evening of Monday, May 3, Emma-Jane began showing concerning symptoms. The next 30 hours were a hard fight and included emergency surgery to correct complications from the atresia. In the end, her little body was not able to recover, and Emma-Jane’s spirit left this world early in the morning of Wednesday, May 5, 2021.
Emma-Jane had a wonderful presence and spirit and earned the nickname of “sweet Emma-Jane” as she quickly gained the love of everyone including her NICU caregivers. While she was only here a short while, Emma-Jane made a tremendous impact on our family and touched the hearts of many, even all those she never got to meet. The pain of not having her physically with us is great. However, we know Emma-Jane is still a presence in our lives and will become our family’s guardian angel until we are able to reunite with her after this life.
Emma-Jane is survived by her parents and her brothers Chance and Brody (Eagle Mountain); her grandparents Hal and Ronna Wells (Erda), John and Karma Wright (Stansbury Park), and Karen Christiansen (Tooele); and her great-grandparents Glen Wells (Blackfoot, Idaho), Coleen Gordon (Tooele), and Nina Christiansen (St. George).
Emma-Jane has been welcomed back to heaven by her namesakes Grandma Hanks (Emma Hanks), Grandma Jane (Betty Jane Misseldine), and Grandma Chris (LaVerne Christiansen Nielsen). She is also proceeded in death by her Aunt Shirrell (Wells) and Uncle Austin (Wells) and great-grandparents Margie Wells, Doug Gordon, Harvey and Connie Wright, Alvin Misseldine, and Ray and Norma Christiansen.
All those who were touched by Emma-Jane’s life are invited to attend her funeral Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at the church building, 2011 E. Oquirrh Ranch Parkway, Eagle Mountain. Afterwards, Emma-Jane will be laid to rest in the Angel Garden of the Eagle Mountain Cemetery, 4648 N. Eagle Mountain Blvd. The funeral will also be broadcast at https://i84005.com/wells/.
Shelten and Erin would like to thank all our family and friends who have given their support during this extremely difficult time along with the staff of Wells Cutting Edge Trimlight and Landscape, Highland City, Eagle Mountain City, Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home, and members of the Oquirrh Mountain Ranch Ward. We are very grateful to the amazing caregivers at the Utah Valley Hospital NICU who gave their all to help Emma-Jane.
In lieu of flowers, individuals are encouraged to donate to the NICU at Utah Valley Hospital. Notes for the family may be sent to www.daltonhoopes.com.