Help Emmi fight Hodgkins Lymphoma
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Who knew that a trip to see if antibiotics were needed would have a nurse refuse to see our daughter and have the nurse direct us to go immediately to the Inova, Lansdowne, Pediatric Trauma Emergency Room. Following the initial consultation, the doctor is a bit stumped and saying that she recommends an upper MRI in order to see if they can figure out what the mass is and if it's to be of concern. You think, okay, that's rather procedural, we're in a trauma center for kids. So, any internal and initial testing I'm comfortable that we're in good hands. A bit later, she and I go to have the MRI. The tech very good. Back there for a bit, later I put together that she saw somethings of concern, she sent urgent files to oncologist, who wanted more. This happened so quickly, I think no big deal, she really just wants to have a 2nd person say we got what we need, or get a bit more. She returns and says that she needs to do just a bit more to make sure. I know tech's aren't allowed to give medical advice or diagnosis info. So, she does a bit more and we go back to the ER. This is when the wait started to seem like it was taking a long time, their not very busy, who needed to look at something... an critical code comes in, so we tell the girl's that we will probably have a longer time, because the code that came in is above just about all other patients. To be patient, say a prayer for the person in deeper need for medical attention. At some point later, the ER Doc asked to speak to us in a separate room. My stomach sank. You know it's bad. In the other room, she explains that my sweet baby has multiple masses. The masses are on both sides of her neck and they surround her heart and are pressing on her Aorta. I'm flooded with questions, but she keeps adding she's not an expert and doesn't want to give any information that she isn't the best person to answer. Logically I get this. The mom side wants a full diagnosis and treatment to start right now. I breakdown as the world starts to shrink and the information starts to settle in. I've lost both of my parent's, I was in my early 20's when this happened.
Unknown, yet concerning mass in soft tissue repeats in my head. We have to wait spikes anxiety. Knowing that I have to stay strong and not worry her or her sister too much is the place I have to find to get through the days until we know for sure. My baby's sick, I've lost too many people already and this is not the order that life goes. As Emmi puts it, the next several days she became a pincushion and the emotions and reality of what's in her future started to set in. She asked tons of questions. She asked the hard questions no parent wants to have to discuss with any child, but especially the younger ones. But, how can you lie? How can you tell them the reality while doing everything you can to preserve their childhood and innocence? Faced with this, informing her siblings, and extended family and friends is a challenge in itself. Keeping a normal for each and all of the siblings is not something anyone should have to face. Siblings feeling and their feelings are just as important and yet it's so difficult to pass that message in a way they can understand. The sadness, anger, questions, the unknown, the ability to jump back and forth into so many roles that each of us is facing is so surreal, so unfathomable, so difficult. Up many nights to be up with Emmi and still wake to be the mom they've always known me to be. This is my pot. This is a full pot. There is a bizarre timewarp that goes along with this brick wall we've been hit with. All of this with trying to meet the mounting medical and other related expenses is doing it's best to put out the flame and I'm not good at asking for help, but we need support.
Please help support Emmi kick Cancer's @$$!
Please share on any and all of your social media outlets, family and friends.
It's with a humbled and grateful heart that we ask for your help.
The love and support is appreciated beyond what our greatest gratitude could show.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT!!!
Our sweet Elizabeth (Emmi) Wickersham dearly loved by her blended families and by her friends has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and in a lightning flash is in the fight of her life. She is a strong, positive, optimistic, loving 10 year old girl. Her love of life, her friends, and her family show no bounds. She is one of the toughest around also she is caring, sweet, empathetic and kind. She has always been one of the first to step up and help others. And now she needs our help and support from her Army and Allies, family, friends and acquaintances alike. Let's all rally for this sweet girl and raise funds to offset her care, treatment and needs. Let's show her the reflection of her love and light in this world and let's give her strength and positive vibrations and anything else we can muster. Let's gear up and battle beside her. No one fights alone! #Emmisarmy #Emmisallies
Unknown, yet concerning mass in soft tissue repeats in my head. We have to wait spikes anxiety. Knowing that I have to stay strong and not worry her or her sister too much is the place I have to find to get through the days until we know for sure. My baby's sick, I've lost too many people already and this is not the order that life goes. As Emmi puts it, the next several days she became a pincushion and the emotions and reality of what's in her future started to set in. She asked tons of questions. She asked the hard questions no parent wants to have to discuss with any child, but especially the younger ones. But, how can you lie? How can you tell them the reality while doing everything you can to preserve their childhood and innocence? Faced with this, informing her siblings, and extended family and friends is a challenge in itself. Keeping a normal for each and all of the siblings is not something anyone should have to face. Siblings feeling and their feelings are just as important and yet it's so difficult to pass that message in a way they can understand. The sadness, anger, questions, the unknown, the ability to jump back and forth into so many roles that each of us is facing is so surreal, so unfathomable, so difficult. Up many nights to be up with Emmi and still wake to be the mom they've always known me to be. This is my pot. This is a full pot. There is a bizarre timewarp that goes along with this brick wall we've been hit with. All of this with trying to meet the mounting medical and other related expenses is doing it's best to put out the flame and I'm not good at asking for help, but we need support.
Please help support Emmi kick Cancer's @$$!
Please share on any and all of your social media outlets, family and friends.
It's with a humbled and grateful heart that we ask for your help.
The love and support is appreciated beyond what our greatest gratitude could show.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT!!!
Our sweet Elizabeth (Emmi) Wickersham dearly loved by her blended families and by her friends has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and in a lightning flash is in the fight of her life. She is a strong, positive, optimistic, loving 10 year old girl. Her love of life, her friends, and her family show no bounds. She is one of the toughest around also she is caring, sweet, empathetic and kind. She has always been one of the first to step up and help others. And now she needs our help and support from her Army and Allies, family, friends and acquaintances alike. Let's all rally for this sweet girl and raise funds to offset her care, treatment and needs. Let's show her the reflection of her love and light in this world and let's give her strength and positive vibrations and anything else we can muster. Let's gear up and battle beside her. No one fights alone! #Emmisarmy #Emmisallies
Organizer
Kate Meil
Organizer
Leesburg, VA
