Emma the Brave: Supporting Emma Through Rare Leukemia

Ten days before her second birthday, sweet Emma started experiencing fevers and discomfort that kept her up at night. Like most parents, Jacob and Ashley thought it might be an ear infection. They took her to urgent care- twice- and then to her pediatrician, hoping for answers. The doctor suspected an infection and prescribed antibiotics but warned: if Emma wasn’t improving in 48 hours, they needed to go straight to the ER.

On March 1, after a long day in one ER, Emma’s blood test results changed everything. She was immediately transferred to a different hospital to be admitted. Over the next two days, a team of specialists ran countless tests and scans. On March 3, doctors delivered the news that no parent ever wants to hear. Emma has leukemia.

On March 4, Emma bravely underwent anesthesia for a double bone marrow biopsy, an MRI, and surgery to place a central line in her tiny chest—a port that delivers medication directly to her heart.

On March 5, her second birthday, Emma began chemotherapy.

Then, on March 7, Ashley and Jacob received more news. Emma's bone marrow biopsy confirmed that her leukemia is a rare and aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RAM immunophenotype. Out of 90 million children in the U.S., about 16,000 are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. Emma’s condition is so rare that only 15 to 20 children are diagnosed with it annually— a 1 in 6 million diagnosis.

AML with RAM immunophenotype is known for its resistance to chemotherapy. Emma’s fight will require round-the-clock hospital care for 12 months, with one of her parents by her side 24/7. Her treatment will likely take them out of state, where she will likely need experimental therapies and clinical trials to give her the best chance at beating this disease.

Emma is a bright, fearless little girl who adores her big sister Nora, loves kicking a soccer ball, and fills every room with laughter. She is sweet, strong, and full of determination, which will carry her through this journey.

Ashley and Jacob are doing everything possible to ensure Emma gets the best care, no matter where that takes them. Their days are now filled with hospital stays, medical decisions, and moments of both heartbreak and hope. As they focus on Emma’s fight, we want to rally around them with love and support.

Please consider donating to help ease the financial burden of this crisis. Financial support will help their family with:

-Medical expenses: support for Emma's current and future treatments, therapies, or anything she may need medically. We hope Emma will be able to come home between treatments eventually, which requires a lot of home-care costs.

-Adjustments to daily life: hospital-stay expenses for Jacob & Ashley, extra needs at home with at least one parent in hospital, transportation costs or other needs for support caregivers, extra care for Nora

-Time and Flexibility: allow Ashley and Jacob to focus on Emma without the financial stress of unpaid time off work

-the Unknowns: with potentially a year or more in the hospital, and the possibility of lengthy visits out-of-state for Emma's treatment, we don't know exactly what the future holds yet. Our support will provide security to help them navigate whatever comes next.

No amount is too small, and every bit of love, prayer, and encouragement means the world to us as we walk this journey with Emma. Her fight is just beginning, but with your support, she will never walk it alone. #EmmaTheBrave