Meet Emma
Emma always imagined becoming a teacher because she loves kids. After her experience at St. Jude, she hopes to become a child life specialist so she can support kids through medical procedures like the ones she went through.
St. Jude patient Emma
St. Jude patient Emma and her family in 2018
Emma's story
In May 2018, when Emma developed nausea and headaches — “really bad ones,” she said — her parents assumed it was from a virus. Tests found evidence of a bacterial stomach infection, but the normal treatment didn’t help much and her symptoms lingered. She was in and out of medical offices and even tried a new prescription for her glasses.
After several weeks of lingering symptoms, a gastrointestinal doctor ordered an MRI, and the results showed a mass on Emma’s brain. After surgery to remove the tumor, later identified as a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma, Emma was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St Jude patient Emma in 2018
St Jude patient Emma in 2018
At St. Jude, Emma’s treatment was part of a clinical trial for medulloblastoma patients called SJMB12 that used lower-dose treatments for patients like Emma who had lower-risk disease. Her treatment included proton beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
St. Jude provides comfort. In this situation, you’re anxious, so much is unknown, and here, that goes away. You know you’re in the best place, and you know your child is getting the best care. Some of the best doctors in the world are here, and what they focus on every day is curing kids.
- Emma's dad
St. Jude patient Emma with her mom
St. Jude patient Emma
How is Emma doing?
Now finished with treatment, Emma visits St. Jude for regular scans. Her dad started an annual youth softball tournament called Emma’s Event as a St. Jude fundraiser. The event has raised more than $150,000.
Emma always imagined becoming a teacher because she loves kids. After her experience at St. Jude, that purpose shifted to the medical world. Now she hopes to become a child life specialist like the ones at St. Jude — so she can support kids through medical procedures, providing comfort to kids when they need it most.
St. Jude patient Emma
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