Emma Strong

On September 1st, my cousin Emma Smrekar, a 17-year-old senior in high school, went to the emergency room at the Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN with severe abdominal pain. Several scans were performed, and it was discovered that Emma had a large tumor in her abdomen. She was immediately transported to the Children's Hospital in Minneapolis via ambulance where doctors confirmed a Cancer diagnosis. Emma spent the next 11 days in the hospital where she underwent 3 surgeries, including the placement of a port for chemotherapy.

Emma has now completed 7 chemotherapy treatments and for the next 35 weeks she will continue to receive treatments weekly. Her treatment plan also includes 5 weeks of intensive radiation therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, that will begin at the end of November. Emma’s mother (my incredible Aunt Lindsey) has since quit her full-time job so that she is able to stay home and support Emma.

As you can imagine these next few months are going to be a very difficult time (made even more so during a pandemic) which is why I have created this page.

Through this GoFundMe, my hope is to offset some of the financial burden that will undoubtedly incur from Emma's extensive medical treatments as well as the costs of a home rental for her 5 week stay in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic.  I pray that Emma and her family feel the love and support from the community both far and wide. Emma is an unbelievably mature, beautiful and bright young woman: she is a fighter and I know she is going to kick cancers ass!