Children's Miracle Network
News Release

September 24 is a very important date for the Emerson family. In 1999, it was the day Julia and Michael's first son, Sean, came into the world. Two years later, it was the day they found out they might lose him.

Sean Emerson

Now, when Sean celebrates his birthday, it isn't with toys and presents—it's with a request for his friends to make a donation to the hospital that saved his life.

On his second birthday, Sean's parents brought him to the emergency room at Texas Children's. A nurse listened carefully to Julia's concerns about her son's recent behavior, his high fevers and his pain. Within hours, the Emersons heard the words that would change their lives forever. Sean had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

"Everyone we came into contact with was wonderful from the very beginning," recalled Julia. "They knew how to break the news to us slowly and calmly. They knew in the hospital room to give us just the basics, because that was all we could handle. They knew we would be in shock and reminded my husband to drive carefully on the way home."

She described the next few days as "orientation." Doctors, nurses, social workers, child life specialists and volunteers helped the Emersons adjust to their new life with a child with cancer.

"They helped us understand Sean's illness and began introducing us to what would become the daily routine in our new life—the medications and when to give them and when not to, the foods Sean could eat and the ones he couldn't," Julia said.

The most incredible part of it all, she said, was the communication between the docto rs in different areas, the nurses, the social workers and the family. "My concerns were always addressed, and nothing ever fell through the cracks. And right from the sta rt, we learned what was expected of us as parents. Everyone here was working hard to save the life of our child, and we had to work hard, too."

Over the next three years, the Emerson family spent lots of time at Texas Children's Hospital as Sean received intensive chemotherapy. There was always someone to answer their questions and someone to help dist ract Sean and get him through a rough procedure. Their needs were met with compassion and concern.

Today, Sean is in complete remission and has joined the ranks of cancer survivors. September 24 is still an emotional day for the Emersons, though. There is always a birthday party, and Julia said Sean is very happy to ask his friends to give a gift to Texas Children's Hospital instead of to him. He knows this will help other children, and he is proud to be able to give back.

As of the end of October, $1,300 had been contributed in honor of Sean Emerson to Texas Children's Hospital through Children's Miracle Network.