Emma's Journey to Beating Cancer

In the beginning of January, Emma had her four-month-old check-up.  She was growing so fast and the doctor said she was very healthy.  A week later, Emma started to develop these very odd bumps on the top of her head.  They weren't red or rash looking.  Her mother, Danielle, watched them for a couple of days.  She went onto Google and searched on what they could be, but nothing came up and they really started to worry.

According to Danielle, during one of Emma’s baths, she felt tons of same bumps all through her head.  They got alarmed so she made the soonest pediatrician appointment.  The doctor ordered to get some blood work and an ultrasound right away.  Hours later, it was shown that Emma's white blood cells were high, and her spleen and liver were enlarged.  Overnight, Emma became sick.  She underwent a bone marrow aspiration and it was revealed that Emma has Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  It is a kind of cancer that is rarely found in infants because it has to do with mature white blood cells.

The family was completely devastated by the news. Anyone who knows Emma would describe her as the happiest baby they have ever seen. She's so sweet and kind. But at this time, they got worried everything would change.

Doctors told them that Acute Myeloid Leukemia is aggressive and fast acting, so they needed to be faster.  Emma started her chemotherapy right away.  Luckily, her first round of chemo went well.  She reacted great without too many complications.  Emma had been through many rounds of chemo and she’s been such a trooper.  You wouldn’t even think these days are supposed to be her not-so-great days. 

Unfortunately, it turns out Emma's cancer is just as strong as she is.  Her bone marrow and blood are in remission, but her skin and spinal fluid are still showing signs of disease.  It's now looking like she is going to need a bone marrow transplant and a few days of radiation.  Her parents got their blood tested to see if either of them is a bone marrow match.  Fortunately, her dad Phil was her match.  The doctors started to do chemotherapy to prepare her body before transplant.

Months passed, and the bone marrow transplant was a complete success.  However, during their follow up, doctors informed them that Emma’s cancer has relapsed.  Still, doctors are feeling hopeful that they can get her back into remission but it's not going to be easy on her little body again.  Her leukemia is aggressive.  Good thing her cancer came back only in her spinal fluid and not in her bone marrow.  But it's likely to come back in her bone marrow too if they don’t do treatments right away.

Emma’s team decided a stem cell transplant using her mother as the donor and they are hoping that it will be her best chance of survival.  After the successful transplant, she went to have her spinal fluid and bone marrow tested to check and see if she's officially in remission since her second transplant.  Results came in and all was perfectly fine.  There might be abnormal cells that are still present in her spine but it’s not something to worry about according to doctors.  Everything is under control.

Months after the stem cell transplant, the little girl’s cancer has relapsed again.  But at this time, doctors are quick to act and performed chemotherapy right away to control it.  The effects of the therapy were never easy for Emma’s little body.  If her parents could take away all the pain, they would surely do.  But Emma has been a fighter ever since.   

As of now, Emma is still getting chemotherapy for continuous maintenance and is ONE YEAR CANCER FREE!  Her appetite and energy has been fantastic.  Keeping up with her crazy toddler self is tough at times. But nothing keeps this brave little girl down for long.  Everything is going great this time around!

Funds raised through our Childhood Cancer Campaign  have helped to raise needed funds to help with new medical  breakthroughs that were critical to helping Emma and other young  patients.