The quiet, sun-dappled parks of Cedar Falls were supposed to be a sanctuary for Emma and her two young daughters. On a Tuesday afternoon that began with the rhythmic creaking of swing sets and the infectious sound of toddler giggles, the atmosphere felt untouchable. However, in the span of a few heartbeats, the mundane beauty of an ordinary walk spiraled into a visceral nightmare. It started with a ragged cough from her eldest, followed quickly by the youngest stumbling with a dazed, glassy-eyed expression. As the girls’ breathing turned into a desperate, whistling struggle against something invisible and merciless, Emma... Continues…





