Benefit dinner held in support of baby Vrbas

Over 125 people attended a benefit dinner Saturday night for Emery Kay Vrbas, daughter of Miranda and Heath Vrbas, who has been hospitalized since her birth June 21.
The baby was born prematurely at 25 weeks and weighed 1 lb. 1/2 oz. At three months old, she now weighs  5 lbs. 1 oz.
During the benefit Saturday, held at Imperial Country Club (ICC),  $3,000 was raised by the sale of silent auction items, according to Mary Wilson, who helped coordinate the event. Proceeds benefit the family’s medical-related needs.
Miranda spends most of her time with Emery at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln. Heath, who farms and ranches, travels back and forth, she said, and stays with son Coehn, age 3.
The mother said Coehn has yet to meet his sister, as he’s restricted from visiting due to his age and the threat of RSV.
Emery must reach certain requirements before being able to go home to Palisade.
“Feeding is a big one,” Miranda noted. “Every bottle she’ll take is like us running a marathon every three hours. She needs to be able to take a bottle and now she’s on a feeding tube.”
Emery is also hooked up to alarms that monitor breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels, which must be removed before being discharged from the hospital.
She is still on oxygen, which she’ll also use at home, Miranda said.
The Vrbas family thanks those who helped with the benefit, including Sherri Buffington, Sherri Burke, Wilson, Lori Watts and Katie Langenfeld.
Wilson said the bartenders at ICC sold fair window paintings this year, using the proceeds to purchase the food for the meal.
Emery’s grandparents are Mike Jaeger and Joeanna Jaeger of Imperial and Bryan and Julie Vrbas of Palisade.