Emily Hood - DIPG

In early February, the Hood family was delivered devastating news. Emily, who had just turned 17, was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor on her brain stem. Its real name is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma - DIPG, a very aggressive childhood cancer that still has doctors baffled.  As quick as the diagnosis came, treatment came just as quickly.  Emily underwent a biopsy of the tumor on February 22nd, and radiation began shortly after.

One of the side effects of the tumor is humor, and Emily certainly keeps her family and friends in stitches and laughing all day. She has maintained an incredibly positive attitude and is leaning heavily on her faith in God. If you have had the chance to stop and visit, text or snapchat her, you will know she's famous for asking YOU how YOU are doing.

Radiation treatments are every day and OT and PT will start this week. Sharon and her family spend most of their days delivering Emily to her appointments and jumping up when their alarms go off to administer medication. As you can imagine, this is beginning to take a toll on the family as Sharon has not been able to work and medical bills will likely start to roll in soon.

The Hood Family appreciates your phone calls, emails, texts, messages, and those of you who have already jumped in to take some of the pressure off so they can worry about Emily, not the small stuff.