In September 2016, just before Emmy’s first surgery, C&C Auto and Tu Casa Restaurant in the Vail Valley put together a benefit night for the Welle family. Emmy had been in treatment for three months. The costs were real and growing, and the timeline was uncertain.
People came. Many of them didn’t know Mike or Aja personally. They came because a child in their community needed them to, and that was enough.
“Special thanks to everyone at C&C Auto and Tu Casa Restaurant for putting this wonderful evening together supporting Emmy,” Mike wrote afterward. “So many generous people, many of whom we don’t even know helped, donated, supported, and loved our little girl out of the goodness of their hearts. We are beyond grateful and so humbled at everyone’s generosity.”
This is what community-level care looks like before it has a name. Before there are programs and organizations and infrastructure. Someone decides to organize something, and people show up.