Emma Horton, a thriving fifth grader with a big personality and contagious laugh, has reason to celebrate. She is reaching major milestones after a more than two-year long fight with medulloblastoma

Emma’s devastating diagnosis

Emma Horton loves making slime, putting on makeup, watching YouTube and playing Roblox. But in July 2023 she couldn’t do the things she enjoyed after experiencing months of symptoms like nausea, vomiting and headache with no clear cause. That’s when a CT scan in our emergency department revealed a baseball-sized tumor on her cerebellum. The diagnosis: medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

 “It was a terrifying moment for our family, but she faced her diagnosis with bravery far beyond her years,” said Lauren Hunter, who Emma describes as her super stepmom.

Those crucial moments in the ER showed Emma’s family that the most important thing was making the now 10-year-old better.

“They listened to me in the ER. They did not dismiss my concerns and actually performed the head CT I requested. They found the problem and within 30 minutes of the scan we were talking with neurosurgery,” said Lauren.

Treating the whole child

Because of the size and location of Emma’s tumor, providers from oncology, neurosurgery, physical and occupational therapy and several other departments have played a role in her treatment.

“The CHoR team has been incredible," said Lauren. “They have been with us through every surgery, treatment and follow-up appointment. They’ve celebrated Emma’s progress and supported us through the hard days. We have never felt alone in this journey.”

Lauren specifically shared that Drs. Frances Austin and Jordyn Griffin and nurse practitioner Tom Brunner really stood out. 

She said, “They have all been amazing, listened to us, and helped us through every treatment.”

 One specific example stands out in her mind during a really tough time.

“When Emma was on life support in December and January, Dr. Austin sat by her side and read Junie B. Jones to her,” shared Lauren.

But the care team wasn’t just there for Emma when she was struggling. Lauren vividly remembers during the same scary time that Dr. Austin read to Emma, Dr. Griffin saw how scared Lauren was, hugged her tight and held her for a long time.

“It meant the world to me, and I will never forget that one small act of kindness and compassion,” Lauren shared. “It made me know how much they truly cared for not only Emma, but also for me.”

Getting stronger every day

Because Emma’s tumor was in the part of her brain that controls balance and coordination, after it was removed, she needed help regaining her motor skills. Her occupational therapist, Erin Swierczewski, is helping her with her upper body strength and becoming more independent. But Emma’s not the only one benefiting from the time they spend together. 

“Emma is an absolute pleasure to work with. My sessions with her are always so fun because she brings so much enthusiasm and joy to every single activity I have planned for her,” Erin shared. “She also thrives on creativity, which allows me to get really inventive with how we work on her goals -- the color pink and unicorns are almost always involved!”

But their sessions aren’t just about fun. They’re lessons in perseverance, being taught by a pediatric patient.

“I have learned so much from Emma about persistence and self-assurance in the face of obstacles," Erin said. “Emma has maintained her bright and witty personality through all the months that I have seen her, whether she was just getting discharged from a long hospital stay or was on a long stretch of progress. She has never lost her confidence in who she is and it’s been such a treat to witness the positive impact she has had on our clinic and our community.”

Positive impact

Just one example of the positive impact Emma has had on her community happened one year ago this month. That’s when she captured the hearts of a capacity crowd (click here to watch the video) at the ASK Childhood Cancer Night at the Diamond. The entire stadium was on their feet as they watched her throw out the first pitch and round the bases despite not feeling her best.

 “It was a challenge for her to get to the pitcher’s mound to throw out the first pitch, and then we get ready to do the ASK Courageous Kids Lap, and she was determined to walk the whole way from bullpen to bullpen,” remembered Flying Squirrels’ General Manager Anthony Oppermann. “The crowd literally stood with her the entire way… and it was really powerful.”

“Her strength, her courage, and her ability to find joy even when things were scary or hard,” is what Lauren said makes her most proud of Emma. “She inspires us every single day with her determination to keep moving forward.”