Our friend Emily needs our help.

Please allow me to boast about our dear friend Emily.

Emily is not only a devoted pediatric nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, but an avid outdoorswoman & adventurer. She is a fiercely loving and loyal wife, daughter,

sister, friend, and dog mom to Penny. Nearly her entire professional career has been dedicated to empathetically treating children at BCH, putting their needs before her own.

Three years ago, Emily was diagnosed with EHE (epithelioid hemangioendothelioma). This is a very rare form of cancer - and while originally found in her liver, it has unfortunately spread beyond. Emily has been quietly managing this, alongside her close family and friends. While Emily’s doctors and providers at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s have been great, her cancer is

rare enough (less than 1 in a million) that Emily is often faced with many additional unknowns and challenges. Since her diagnosis, Emily spends countless hours doing her own research and is truly her own biggest advocate. She has had several extended stays at the hospital over the past few months, including through Christmas. This journey is beyond devastating and painful.

Emily and her husband, Michael, have worked hard to purchase their first home together in New Hampshire (their happy place) and are in the middle of rehabbing a building with family heritage to become Emily’s healing oasis. With Emily being out of work indefinitely and Michael (a self-employed musician) looking to spend as much time with her as possible, the financial burdens of this project have grown as attention has focused on her day-to-day medical needs.

As the medical aspect continues to complicate matters, we want to help her out as best we can. Emily has always put the needs of others before her own. It’s time for us to return the energy that Emily has always embodied. Please consider a donation to go towards Emily’s medical expenses (including at-home nursing care), lost wages, and ensuring that their new home will be a comfortable place for her needs right now. At a time we wish we could do so much more, a financial contribution would go a long way to bring some comfort and stability to Emily and Michael.

Sincerely,

Lindsay James