In May 2017, when Emmy’s cancer returned and the family was facing a second round of intensive treatment, a medical fundraiser was set up at YouCaring.com — then one of the leading platforms for personal medical fundraising.
The address was youcaring.com/emmysfriends. YouCaring has since closed, but the fundraiser ran when the family needed it most.
“A lot of folks have been reaching out with offers to give and to help and for that we could not be more grateful,” Mike wrote at the time. “The outpouring of support is heartwarming and instills so much confidence in us to continue this journey with heads held high.”
This round of treatment would require 54 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, extended stays in Denver and Boston, and a level of logistical complexity that made financial support from the community a practical lifeline — not just a gesture.
People gave. Strangers gave. The fundraiser helped cover what insurance didn’t, and it helped the family keep their focus where it needed to be: on Emmy.