Emma Rae

Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Age: 6
This story was shared by Emma’s mom in May, 2014

After a series of illnesses that caused four months worth of doctor visits when she was just 2-years-old, Emma was finally diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) on St. Patrick's Day in 2011.

Within weeks of that life-altering cancer diagnosis, she developed a near-deadly fungal infection in her sinuses. That landed Emma in the hospital for 64 days, during which she had to endure NINE surgeries and 19 hyperbaric oxygen treatments.

In those precious months when most children are having fun outside, playing with new friends and just learning how to be a kid, Emma was fighting for her life behind drawn shades and the constant threat of infection on everyone's breath, including those who loved her most.

Emma just turned 6, and while thankfully the nightly chemotherapy and emergency-room visits have faded into memory, her family's worry never has. And the road to recovery is not over. On June 2, 2014, nearly one year after Emma celebrated "No Mo Chemo,” we will travel to Children's of Alabama (University of Alabama – Birmingham – one of the 21 hospitals in the Children’s Oncology Group Phase I Consortium supported by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer!) to undergo reconstructive surgery to repair the damage the infections caused around her eye and cheek.

And yet, no matter the challenges she faces, Emma spends her days reveling in thoughts of going into first grade next year and how high she can jump on her trampoline. And it's for that blessing, her family continues to give thanks.