Fishing Without Bait 507: Holding On to Hope with Emily

Episode 558 · March 17th, 2026 · 22 mins 4 secs

About this Episode

This week on Fishing Without Bait, we continue our deeply moving conversation with returning guest Emily.

In this episode, Emily shares the intense and emotional journey following her daughter McKenna’s sudden medical crisis. What began as a normal day quickly turned into a life-threatening situation involving emergency surgery, strokes, and unimaginable uncertainty. Emily walks us through the overwhelming decisions, the devastating prognosis she was given, and the moments that tested her strength like never before.

Despite facing the possibility of losing her child, Emily found herself holding onto even the smallest signs of hope — a breath over a ventilator, a slight movement, a reason to keep going. She reflects on the emotional toll, the fear of the unknown, and how she navigated anxiety, trauma, and the temptation of relapse during the darkest moments.

This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and the importance of support systems when life changes in an instant.

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Emily.