Help Emiliana Fight DIPG!!

On Wednesday May 22nd this year my wife baked a delicious whole chicken, Emiliana couldn't get enough of it. Afterwards Emiliana chased and was chased by her little sister Juliette in the frantic struggle to have as much fun as possible before bedtime. By Friday May 24th Emiliana Lynn Nichols was diagnosed with DIPG, a very aggressive tumor located on her brain stem. The average survival time is 9 months from diagnosis.

Emiliana Lynn Nichols loves My Little Pony, Barbie and has just started getting into Dora the Explorer. She wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. I tried to teach her how to fight in case she needed to defend herself, but she gave me a hug instead. I explained to her how important self-defense is and she hugged me again. I didn't push it any further, I decided that she was right.

Emiliana is fighting this cancer with all her strength. Her smiles and laughter are the most brilliant and rare bursts of lightning during this smothering storm that history says will take her from us, each one a treasure.



Emiliana has now finished 30 radiation therapy treatments, hoping to temporarily slow the spread of this cancer. Her nausea was so bad that she would get sick if she was turned off of her left side. On her very first scheduled radiation therapy visit, the mask fitting, she got sick during transfer and had to take the ambulance back to the hospital with seemingly nothing accomplished. She went back the next day with no fear and even looked forward to the treatments, knowing they were going to make her healthier.

Although she has only just finished Kindergarten Emiliana has accomplished a lot. Her MAP test results put her in the 95th percentile Nationwide. Emiliana has been Nationally recognized as Academically Gifted in the categories of Math and Reading, earned multiple awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement, A Super Reader's Award and many others. Emiliana's kindness and love for everyone she meets are beyond measure.

We are a one-income household and normally get by just fine but this has hit us broadside. All we can do is spend every moment with her and pray that she might beat the odds.

Any donations will go directly toward ensuring that we are able to spend this time together as a family.

If you read this I hope that you will pray for us, for Emiliana's recovery and to give us strength to support her as much as possible.