Running for Emily

It's been almost a year since I posted this, and since the Internet at-large overwhelmed me by selflessly giving more than $30,000 to a family in need; a family that the majority of you have never even met. It has been a long year and a tough road for the Mandells, and especially for two-year-old Emily, who was diagnosed with an extremely large and aggressive brain tumor in March of 2008.

The good news is that Emily is fighting hard and defying expectations and winning battles along the way. There have been setbacks and there have been challenges, and there have been some awfully scary moments that tied our stomachs in knots and kept our eyes squeezed tightly shut in prayer. But Emily's last MRI, at the end of February, showed no new tumor growth and no malignant cells in her spinal fluid. On March 30, exactly one year after a seizure led to the discovery of a baseball-sized AT/RT tumor in her brain, Emily will begin the next phase of her treatment, which will include more high-dose chemo as well as stem cell transplant. The next few months are going to be critical to Emily's chances for long-term survival.

Emily's parents, Katie and Brian, secured an apartment close to the hospital in Boston, and Katie is there with Emily around the clock. Brian teaches middle school during the week here in Virginia, and flies back every weekend to be with Katie and Emily. With all that travel and a full-time job and oh, that minor thing about parenting a toddler with BRAIN CANCER, you wouldn't think that Brian had the energy or desire to add anything else to the mix.

But he was selected to run the Boston Marathon as part of the 2009 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, so he's training for that, as well. As part of Team Dana-Farber, Brian will be raising money for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research in addition to enjoying 26.1 miles of Punishment by Asphalt. One hundred percent of the funds he raises goes directly towards helping the doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Center and its affiliates (including Children's Hospital Boston, where Emily is currently being treated) find ways to make cancer treatment less toxic and more effective.

Brian has never even RUN a marathon before. But I guess, you know, he'd never parented a kid with cancer before, either, and he's doing a damn fine job of that. The cool part is that his best friend (also conveniently named Brian; we'll call him Brian S. for purposes related to this post) will be running alongside him on April 20. Brian S. and Brian have been friends since elementary school, and last fall, Brian S. (and his girlfriend! Hi Cathryn!) actually ran the Marine Corps Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society, in honor of Emily:

  

(IS THAT NOT THE SWEETEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN?) (Confidential to Cathryn: He's TOTALLY a keeper.)

Anyway, I haven't said much about Emily here in months and months (although I try to keep updates current here) but so many of you showed such an interest in her story that I thought I'd give you an opportunity to do something awesome for this sweet family again, if you felt led to do so. Brian and Brian S. need to raise a certain amount of money to participate in the Boston Marathon. I think Brian has already raised the appropriate amount, but Brian S. seems to be lagging a little behind. Understandably so, as I think people are going to naturally gravitate towards donating money in the name of someone who has a child with cancer, rather than his running partner, even though all the money donated goes to the same wonderful foundation for the same purpose.

But I think about how sad it would be if Brian S. was unable to run because he hadn't raised enough money, and what a downer that would be for Brian. When your kid is sick with a terrifying and often terminal disease, I can imagine that you need to cling to every little ray of sunshine you can. I know Brian is probably looking forward to the race in April for a lot of reasons, but at the top of his list is probably just getting to do something awesome and inspiring and fulfilling with his very best friend, in honor of his beautiful daughter.

From Brian S.'s donation page:

“I grew up with Brian Mandell, and was so happy for him to meet and marry Katie, and to bring the beautiful Emily into this world. Brian and Katie, and as well as their community of friends and family, were devastated when Emily was diagnosed with a cancer known as ATRT. Her little head has since survived numerous surgeries and her family too many scares to count.

Emily is now at Boston Children's Hospital, where she is receiving world class treatment and has defied expectations as well as that goddamn tumor in her head, I am happy to report.

When Brian asked me to train for and run this marathon with him, I didn't hesitate for a second. I am honored to run the Boston Marathon, and I am humbled to be doing it for a cause so near to my heart and to that of so many people I love.”

(PEOPLE, HOW CAN YOU NOT TEAR UP WHEN GROWN MEN WRITE SUCH BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING THINGS?)

If you want to donate in the name of Brian Mandell or Brian Stickel, you can do so here or here. I know, tough economic times and all that, blah blah blah, but I also know that I would be willing to do and give more if I was just presented with a good reason to do so and an easy way to do it. Give what you would have spent on a latte or give what you would have spent on a stamp, it all adds up. And if you don't have anything to give at all, you can still offer up your prayers because Emily and her family still need those desperately. Thanks, everyone.

Comments

[A'Dell]

Thanks for sharing this with us. Reading about Emily and her progress warms my heart. I have been rooting for her and her parents.

I'm so happy to make a donation - I would much rather see my dollars go to something specific that I can connect with than a giant fund somewhere that I'll never know how I helped people.

Thanks for continuing to update us Emily - it's stuff like this that makes me love the internet so much I want to hug my laptop.

[Beret]

This is awesome. I'm so glad to hear about Emily's progress and she and her parents are in my prayers. As for Brian S.: he is a Matthew McConaghey (however you spell that!) look-alike! How cute do he and his girlfriend look after freaking running a marathon???

Best of luck to all!

[Emily]

Thanks so much for posting this! Money is tight these days, but I'm happy to donate to such a worthy cause and such a beautiful family. What a wonderful friend Brian S. is for doing this! Best of luck to all of them.

[Julie]

Emily - thanks for letting us know about this! I know we'll get Brian S.'s dollar amount up there so he can run, too!

[Melanie]

Good luck to them!

[Caity]

Yay for the Brians! Thanks for posting this so we could learn about it and know how to support them.

[Parsing Nonsense]

Oh, I got all verklempt at my desk, it's so wonderful that this family has so many amazing people reaching out and caring for them! Thanks for the update!

[Raychelle]

You're such a good friend to post this :) I totally teared up reading Brian S.'s statement. I made a donation...it's small, but hope it helps :)

[Marin]

I was wondering how she was. I'm glad to hear that she's making progress.

[Courtney]

Thanks for sharing that. There are some truly amazing people out there.

[Natalee]

That's awesome! I hope my small contribution could help in some way.

[Maureen]

Thanks for letting us know how we can help. I've been following Emily's story and praying for her family ever since you first mentioned her.

[Melissa]

Ok you are awesome!! I just started reading your blog today. Instead of working I read your blog. Seriously you write about the stuff I think about.

Anyway I subscribed on google reader.

This is an awesome thing you are doing to raise money!

[amanda]

Done and done. Thanks for letting us know about this.