Emma Salisbury: Dance Again

This is my good friend and colleague's daughter Emma. She is a beautiful, talented, and smart 15 year old girl. Emma dreamed of becoming a professional ballet dancer and even studied dance in Toronto and was all set go off to Arts Umbrella this year for school to pursue her dream. At the end of the school year however Lupus struck sending Emma into life threatening kidney failure.

Emma remained positive as her chemotherapy treatments bagan to supress the Lupus. After her first treatment Emma suffered a stroke which caused left sided paralysis of her arm and leg. She was now unable to walk. Emma even needed to learn to swallow again. She spent weeks in ICU on plasmapheresis and continuous dialysis at BCCH.

Emma's parents Caitlin and Derek took summer off work to be with her at the hospital during the scariest time of her life. They have been tirelessly advocating for Emma and researching to get Emma the best rehab possible in a system that is strapped.

Currently Emma is doing out patient rehab therapies on state of the art of technology called Myndtec. Treatments are over $4000. They are working towards getting her leg to work well again and regain some movement in her left arm and hand. Time is of the essence here as she tries to rebuild new neuro pathways to regain movement. Emma and her family's hope is that not only will Emma walk again but she will once again grace the dance stage.