Emelie Brosnihan, 7, bilateral Wilms tumor, Natick, with Kate (mom), Dave (dad)
· During the summer in 2022, Emelie was swimming with her siblings, Olivia and Liam. When they came inside for lunch, Emelie screamed and cried from pain. Her family took her to the local emergency room where it was confirmed she had masses on her kidneys. The family went to Boston where Emelie was diagnosed with Bilateral Wilms Tumors, a form of kidney cancer. Within 24 hours, Emelie had a port put in and began her first round of chemotherapy.
· Starting August 2022, Emelie underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors on her kidneys, leaving her with half of her right kidney and two-thirds of her left. Emelie’s last round of chemotherapy was in February 2023. She visited the Jimmy Fund Clinic on a monthly basis for blood work, and prescription renewal until end of May 2023, when she graduated to quarterly visits and scans.
· Emelie enjoys swimming, playing with her brother and sister, and all kinds of crafts. This past summer, Emelie was a patient partner with Homegoods and HomeSense and designed artwork for their annual bag campaign to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber. Her bag designs included an underwater scene with fish and turtles, and a panda bear eating a watermelon. Emelie is going to enter second grade in the fall.