Early January, 2021, our daughter Emma Madison became very ill, she complained of a painful lump in her abdomen. After an ultrasound and CT scan we found out Emma had a large tumor near her right kidney, liver and intestines. The first pediatric oncologist surgeon believed it to be a Pheochromocytoma and suggested we rushed her to the ER of Stanford as he estimated she only had a week to get the tumor out and only a few hospitals in CA had the team of specialists to perform this surgery. Emma was admitted into Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) on January 11th, she had an MRI and a bunch of more studies, she was seen by a big team of specialists and on January 14th she had her surgery, they were able to remove the tumor but had to leave behind 5% of an enlarged lymph node that has attached to the tumor and the kidney’s artery. Emma was discharged from hospital to finish recovering from her surgery. We left the hospital with a preliminary diagnosis. Until the pathologist at LPCH finishes studying the entire tumor (almost 12cm big) and the attached enlarged lymph node, we will not have a final diagnosis. For now, evidence shows Emma has a very rare and large Ganglioneuroma tumor (a mature variant of Neuroblastic tumors), which they believe might be benign. We pray that this diagnosis holds. We understand that if the pathologist's final report says the tumor is benign, there will not be a need for chemotherapy or further surgeries for now. In a few weeks we will go back to Stanford's Bass Oncology Clinic where she will have another MRI and other medical exams to see if there are any changes as sometimes these tumors come back even if removed completely. Every 6 months or so she will need to continue getting scans to make sure she stays tumor free. We face many medical expenses that insurance won’t cover.
We are asking for your continued prayers during Emma's healing journey. We thank you for all your love, healing energy and support. Charlie and I will continue to walk this path by her side and help her regain optimal health. In order to achieve this, we will need to make several life adjustments, such as finding a place where we can move in with my parents (they want to help us care for Emma) close to Stanford for the time being since LPCH has the leading pathologist and specialists in such rare tumors. Your financial support will allow us to meet her new medical and dietary needs, in addition to giving her access to functional and holistic therapies that can help her recover 100%, pay for any hospital and medical expenses not covered by insurance. If you are able to contribute at any level, we truly appreciate it. And kindly help us share this GoFundMe page with your friends, co-workers and family and social media pages. We will keep you updated as we have more information from all specialists.
Charlie, Emma’s dad, became very ill in the last three years and he had to do an early retirement. He was a 5th grade teacher at San Jose Unified School District. Both Charlie and Patty (Emma’s mom) are Emma’s homeschool teachers.
Emma at age 11 aspires to be a writer. She is a nature kid that is passionate about protecting the environment and rescuing animals, specially dogs. She is an avid reader and you can always find her with a book or two in her hand. She loves doing plays with her local Shakespeare youth group. Loves fashion design, art and jazz. She is an only child and the miracle baby her parent’s awaited for nine years.
In 2019, when Emma turned 10, Charlie wrote her the following poem that pretty much describes Emma’s first 10 years.
Em at Ten
The Doofus de Oofus, the One and Only
Your turning ten sure makes me feel lonely
Where is the toddler who punched my newspaper
Who cheated at riddles on the Arkenstone caper
Taunting your mom with the victory dance
Reigning over millions as the Queen of the Ants
Easter, Christmas, and Halloween dreams
Dressing as Artemis, Hermione, and Cleopatra the Queen
Laughing at shows til crowds turn around
What child’s chortling that infectious sound?
Learning to bike with the help of the Schuetts
Down the driveway again, until you could do it
Caring for friends and defending them too
Deep conversations between Evan and you
Writing novels, plays, and letters to Tias
Tag with Herreras and Barbies with Leah
Elisa and Esteban, sledding in snow
Yosemite’s winter made the earth glow
Giggling and hugging Madeline and Adele
You love and support your closest friends well
A Percy cliffhanger, A Holmesian mystery
An Austen romance wrapped in some history
Darcy and Lizzy, Piglet and Pooh
Azula and Aang, and creepy Blind Pew
Freya, Sly Loki and red bearded Thor
Zeus, Athena and endless Greek lore
Calvin and Hobbes and Avatar Korra
Kipper the Dog and the box of Pandora
Tolkien, Riordan, Rowling and Dickens
Worlds of words that make your pulse quicken
Waxing poetic with the Shakespearean crowd
Finding your voice and proclaiming it proud
Artist, designer, writer and dancer
Singer, musician and hopeless romancer
Fashion Society Junior Assistant
Searching for things? … be more persistent
Louis and Ella, Nat Cole and Sinatra
Phantom, the Ballet, Cats and the Opera
Fly Me to the Moon, songs that you sings
Over the Rainbow and My Favorite Things
Guardian of nature, trees and the earth
Bubbling with laughter and limitless mirth
Libraries, forests, mountains and beach
Keep these sacred places always in reach
Helping the homeless, lost children, the needy
Gifts from great Tia Kim and the great Tia Dede
Adopting street dogs: Duke, Luna and Coco
Peeing and barking and driving Dad loco
Birthday celebrations with immense populations
Friends of all ages and all generations
Por Tata and Aya tu es su preciosa
Poquito bonito and poquito hermosa
Cupcakes and pancakes, not bad at baking
Crashing in go karts, not good at braking
Dueling wits with the wise Grand Poobah
Baby stories nightly from amazing Mama
Your journey will be an ongoing quest
Envied by Jason, Theseus and all of the rest
Doing the right thing for you is what’s true.
Be Brave. Be Bold. (and please) Always Be you.
Love, Dad
(aka el Charlie)
(aka the Grand Poobah of the Fashion Society)
