Emily P.Follow

At bedtime, 7-year-old Emily says a prayer that all kids with cancer will be cured and live long and healthy lives. The prayer is close to Emily’s heart.

After a persistent limp and unexplained fever, in March of 2010 Emily was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

“Emily knows that sometimes kids with cancer pass away,” said Orfelinda, Emily’s mother. “Approximately 85% of kids diagnosed with ALL survive but there is much more work to be done.”

If all goes well, Emily, now 7, will complete treatment in June 2012 - good news for this busy girl who enjoys Hannah Montana, Junie B. Jones books, and music from “Big Time Rush.” Emily loves gardening and eating cherry tomatoes fresh off the vine. Treatment has changed her taste buds, so now she prefers chips, pickles, and broccoli covered in cheese.

Emily dreams of a wedding dress with a very long train and having a family. Before cancer, she also dreamt of being a teacher, but now says, “I want to be a doctor who saves kids’ lives.”