Emma's Story
I will begin Emma's Story with introducing myself. I am Marla Hamann, Founder of TARS Awareness Texas and proud mother of Ms. Emma. I am the proud mother of four wonderful children. But the journey that led me here has not always been easy. My two oldest children were conceived with no complications and no medical concerns. Many years later, I met my husband and remarried. We were excited to have children together. What we didn’t expect was the heartbreak we would face before welcoming our rainbow baby, our precious daughter, Emma Layne.
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Our first pregnancy together ended at only five weeks due to an ectopic pregnancy. Along with losing our baby, I also lost a fallopian tube. During my follow-up appointment, the doctor discovered a large cyst that was life-threatening. I was told I needed emergency surgery immediately because if it burst, I could die within minutes. That same day, I underwent surgery to remove the blood and toxins already inside my body. The doctors told me I truly had an angel watching over me — I had been a ticking time bomb.
Eight months later, we found out we were pregnant again, and our hearts were filled with hope. Then COVID hit. Because of my age, I was referred to Maternal Fetal Medicine for additional monitoring. At that appointment, I was told that by the next time I returned, there would likely be no heartbeat. Two days later, at my doctor’s office, there wasn’t one. I was 16 weeks pregnant.
Because the pregnancy had not reached 20 weeks, I was not allowed to bring my baby home for burial. She was kept for scientific research. Later, we were told that our baby girl had Down syndrome and fluid throughout her body. The grief shattered me. I fell into a deep depression and truly believed my heart could not break any more than it already had. At that moment, I felt done. But as God often does, he blessed us again only three months later. This time, fear overshadowed my joy. I was hesitant to feel hopeful. After our genetic testing appointment, we were told we were expecting a healthy baby girl. For the first time in a long time, I could breathe again.
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Then came the anatomy scan.
The ultrasound raised questions about our baby’s arms and hands. Once again, we were referred to Maternal Fetal Medicine. It was there that we first heard the words: TAR Syndrome — Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome. I remember asking God why this was happening. For a time, I didn’t want to pray. I didn’t want to talk to Him. I felt abandoned. But slowly, I found my way back to prayer. I asked God to protect my daughter — no matter what challenges she might face. TAR Syndrome is extremely rare — only 1 in 200,000 births — and there is little reliable information available. Much of what we found online was outdated or frightening. Many medical professionals were unfamiliar with the condition.
So we lived in uncertainty — full of questions and fear — until we finally met doctors and families who had experience with TAR Syndrome. We learned that many individuals with TAR Syndrome live full, happy, and capable lives. I cried tears of relief knowing my daughter could have a future.
And then — our warrior arrived.
This story is dedicated to every family and every individual living with TAR Syndrome — and especially to our precious Warrior Princess, Emma Layne. She has shown us strength, resilience, and pure joy in the face of uncertainty and I founded TARS Awareness Texas so that every parent and family receiving a TAR diagnosis will never feel alone, lost, or afraid the way we once did. We want parents to be supported. We want information to be available. We want awareness — and hope — to be the first thing families experience.
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Because our TAR babies are miracles. And they deserve a world that understands them