When little girls are 3 years old, they are supposed to not have a care in the world.  All they should be doing is playing, giggling, exploring and feeling the love of their family. Well our Emmy was doing just that until September 2009. School was back in session and that meant mom and dad back to work as teachers, and Emmy and her little brother would go back to Kreative Kidz (in Kerman) to learn and play.  Emmy had just started dancing at Jazzy D, it was all she could talk about, a few months in is when her symptoms began. She had a low grade fever which we attributed to just new school year germs, she started to withdraw herself from playing, and her skin color started to change and then the bruising came. We had been to urgent care 3 times in a week and she was prescribed Tylenol.  September 12th was the harvest festival and Emmy was supposed to perform. She took her Tylenol, she performed and later we celebrated.  In that moment is when she had a severe nosebleed. The next morning we took her to the nearest hospital and were immediately admitted, from there we were transported to Valley Children’s and that is when we found out our baby girl had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

 September 13th we found what would be a new normal for our sweet little Gutierrez family. Emmy began her stay with 2 blood transfusions and chemotherapy. She would end up having a total of 12 blood transfusions through the first few months of treatment. It was a mere month after, and she was considered in remission. However, she would continue chemotherapy for 2 years at varying degrees.  She had so much hair to begin with she never fully lost it all.  Just after her 4th birthday she said to me from the back seat of the car “Mama I am ready to shave my head”. You see her hair had thinned out so much and every time she bathed there would be more left in the tub and on her pillow.  Never once did she lose her sparkle.  She was done with everything on December 21, 2011!  We celebrate that every year.  It was her day “0”, the last day to take a pill.  

Emmy is now a healthy 13 year old girl who loves cheer, volleyball, and swimming.  She knows that God has a plan for her and that her story is not over.  Emmy finds ways to connect with those who are going through similar situations.  She has been known to give words of encouragement and just there as a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen.  Her heart is as big as the ocean is wide.  

            During our journey, Leukemia Lymphoma Society was there and reached out to us first.  They helped with transportation costs to and from the hospital, they sent literature that not only helped Emmy but help her dad and I understand the disease.  We participated in Light the Night, what a magical experience.  Emmy also helped her school, Liberty Elementary in Kerman California, raise money for Pennies for Patients by sharing her story and being an advocate for blood cancer awareness.  Emmy’s Godmother walked a full marathon in San Diego with Team in Training in her honor.  Knowing first hand that LLS is at the forefront of finding new and innovative treatments, we are honored to be part of a group that is fighting for a cure.  Finding the silver lining when going through a storm is tough, but if you look hard enough you will find it.