14-year-old Emily battling lymphoma

By ROBERT PIERCE

Leader & Times

Recently, Emily Bremenkamp was taken to Liberals Southwest Medical Center with what was first thought to be a simple case of pneumonia.

Physicians at the local hospital, however, seemed a bit confused though as to what the 14-year-old girl actually had.

Her lung function just wasnt getting better, said Emilys mother, Michele Bremenkamp. Her kidneys and blood levels were just out of control. They really couldnt figure out what was wrong with her.

This is when young Emily was sent to a hospital in Wichita, where doctors discovered she was suffering from Burkitts lymphoma.

According to the medical site Web MD, Burkitts lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in which cancer starts in immune cells called B-cells.

As one could imagine, Michele was more than a little scared when she heard the news about Emilys condition.

Absolutely horrified, she said. You never think your baby will have anything like this. You cant fathom it. You do everything youre supposed to do as a parent, and all of a sudden, your child has something horrible. Its something no parent should have to go through.

As of Monday, Emily was still at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where her family is waiting for her condition to stabilize so she can come home.

Kathy Bloom and Kylee Harrison of Seward Countys K-State Research and Extension office, the administrators of the local 4-H program of which Emily is a part, are asking for help with money and prayers for the youth.

Prayer, prayer and more prayers, the agents said in an e-mail to the Leader & Times. Donations of money to be used for things not covered by insurance. Emilys room is literally filled with flowers and plants.

The e-mail also stated the Extension is working to set up an account at a bank, but until all the paperwork is complete, donations may be dropped off at the K-State office at 1081 Stadium Road in Liberal.

Make checks to the Emily Bremenkamp fund, the e-mail said.

Michele said many other people in the community are helping the family out, including Liberals Parks and Rec Department, which is hosting the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K for Emily. That event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning at the Rec Center in Blue Bonnet Park.

Liberal High School, where Emily is currently a student, has likewise helped out with fundraisers, and Michele said this is just the beginning of the community support the Bremenkamps have received.

Weve had tons of letters and cards and prayers, she said. The Southwest Miracles has helped us with our motel expenses while were here. Weve been here almost three weeks now.

All of this support has come willingly from all involved, as Michele said the family has not asked for anything.

The things that are being done on behalf of us is because people want to, she said. Weve never asked for anyone to do anything. Weve not asked the community or any organizations for a dime. Anything thats been done has been done because somebody else started the ball rolling. We havent asked for anything and would not. You try to do what you can do to take care of your child, and the outpouring of support has been fabulous.

Today is Thanksgiving, and at this point in time, Michele said the Bremenkamps are thankful for the doctors in Liberal who sent Emily to Wichita to find what was wrong with her and start immediate treatment.

Had we waited, the prognosis probably wouldnt have been as good, so were thankful that they sent us here, she said. Were thankful for all the things the doctors and nurses have done here. Were thankful for the communitys prayers and love and support. We feel with everything people are doing, praying for Emily to get better is going to help us and help her spirit as we move through the next few months.

Michele said the doctors in Wichita are not sure how long it will take to get the cancer out of Emilys system, but they, along with the Bremenkamp family, are confident the young lady will be cured and survive the condition.

Itll be months of chemo, Michele said. When this type of cancer is caught, as they have here, the chemo is very, very successful. Different cultures show different numbers, but were talking 80, 90 percent success rate for this type of cancer. It is the fastest growing cancer from what weve been told, but the chemo can almost melt the tumor and the cancer cells.

Emily has been at Wesley for about three weeks now, and Michele said the family is thrilled with the progress she has made thus far.

She has made great strides in getting better, and the chemo has already started to show good results, the mother said. Were very optimistic that shes going to beat this and be the active kid that shes always been with school and 4-H and bowling and all the things that she does.

Doctors likewise were not sure how long the lymphoma had been in Emilys system before she was diagnosed, but original estimates put that time frame at about two to three weeks.

It just progresses that rapidly, Michele said.

Emily is heavily involved with 4-H, serving as the president of the local Wide Awake chapter.

She does arts and crafts, foods, quilting, photography and the shooting sports, Michele said.

Outside of 4-H, Emily also has a few other activities shes involved with, according to her mother.

She is active in bowling and marching with the high school in That Liberal Band, she said.

Michele emphasized that the support the Bremenkamps have received has been wonderful.

Theyve sent lots of notes and cards of encouragement and balloons and texted her and communicated back and forth with her, she said. That helps a lot knowing so many people care.

Michele said she would once again like to thank the community for all the support the family has received.

We go about living our lives, she said. We dont ask for anything. You dont seek out anybody to help you, but its been overwhelming the amount of support weve received from the community as a whole in getting us through this.

Source: http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D19078:14-year-old-emily-battling-lymphoma%26catid%3D12:local-news%26Itemid%3D40