Emmett is an average boy who loves playing football and spending time with his sister Evelyn, his mom Nicole, and his dad Jareth. But for someone who is only a boy, Emmett has overcome so much. After last year’s football season, he started experiencing leg pain. During his last football game, he was tackled on that leg multiple times, so his mom took him to a pediatric and orthopedic doctor for an X-ray. Both doctors concluded that his leg pain was a result of growing pains. By the peak of the holiday season, Emmett’s leg still continued to hurt. Once he started becoming pale, cold, and experiencing bruising, they returned to the doctor, and his mom demanded bloodwork.
“I got the call later that night, [right before the holidays], to go straight to Hershey Hospital. Emmett was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia, and a few days later, bloodwork came back that it was a rare form,” she said.
Immediately after arriving, Emmett’s family realized that Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital had something special. They immediately felt like family, and the hospital staff went above and beyond for them. The hospital staff found ways to make the holidays special for the family, and Emmett had his favorite Christmas ever while there.
“All that mattered was that we were all together,” Nicole said.
When Emmett was first diagnosed, his family was informed they were now a Four Diamonds family. Nicole had never heard of this before, but had heard of THON. They had no idea how much this organization would mean to them.
“When your child is first diagnosed, you know you are going to have to be off work for an extended period of time, and the thought of balancing all of this plus medical bills and regular bills back home is exhausting. I was so grateful to hear that any medical bill that wasn’t covered by our insurance would be covered by Four Diamonds,” she said.
During treatment, Emmett went on a clinical trial at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with a therapy called CAR-T therapy. A clinical trial is a research study in people that tests new ways to detect, diagnose, or treat cancer. CAR-T therapy is a type of therapy where T-cells are trained to attack B-cells. Emmett faced B-Cell leukemia, which can cause extreme fatigue and weight loss. However, since undergoing this new treatment, Emmett’s B-cells have not returned.
Emmett got his port removed in April 2026, and June 2026 marked one year since Emmett got his CAR-T Cells, and he has remained B-Cell Free. Since then, Emmett has returned to school, continued sports, and returned to simply growing up. Emmett’s family attended a special beach retreat where they bonded with other families that had experiences with childhood cancer. They also joined their paired organization, Club Track and Field, for a trip to Hershey Park this summer!
This month, THON is honoring four families who have embodied each of the Four Diamonds throughout their cancer journey. Emmett and his family exemplify courage, the first of the Four Diamonds, for so many reasons. Emmett’s courage to participate in the clinical trial improves research and gives so many children like him the opportunity to grow up. Emmett’s family has displayed courage not only through their bravery during each hospital visit, treatment, and unknown, but also in the way that they have given other families courage as well.
Even as Emmett is still undergoing at-home treatment, Emmett’s family takes the opportunity to give back to those in need. “We enjoy helping others that have walked our same path by donating to the Ronald McDonald House,” Emmett’s mom said.
Not only does Emmett’s family give back to those in need financially, but they have also taken the opportunity to emotionally support two other families with Emmett’s rare form of leukemia at CHOP who went through the same medical trial. “To be able to relate to someone who knows exactly what you are going through is truly a blessing,” Nicole said.
Financially and emotionally supporting families in need, especially when fighting through your own hardships, is a powerful message to send and one that Emmett’s family sends so strongly. We thank Emmett’s family for their courage and showing us how to be strong, kind, and generous despite enormous adversity.
THON™ is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital because of supporters like you. Your generosity creates moments of joy for Four Diamonds children and families and empowers our volunteers through year-round events, fundraisers and THON Weekend.
