I’d like to introduce you to one of my inspirations. You may know Emily Whitehead as the “miracle” girl who has give hope to many in the cancer community. She was the first pediatric recipient to receive a breakthrough treatment that reengineers T-Cells to treat leukemia under Dr. Carl June’s care at the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia. Three years later, she’s still in remission, and this treatment approach is helping guide researchers across the global to develop targeted therapies and create options for patients where none existed. Her story appears in Ken Burns’ epic “Emperor of All Maladies” documentary that was just released.

Almost a year after we first met, I was so excited to reunite with Emily Whitehead and her parents, Kari and Tom, when they were in NYC for the night. We first met when I gave a keynote at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Leading the Way to a World Without Blood Cancer” for researchers and advocates in Washington DC. Two nights later, we were back at the same table at Solving Kids Cancer’s Annual Gala.

Emily is so positive and full of life, and her parents’ love remind me of how incredibly supportive my own parents have been along the way. I look forward to future adventures together, and please visit their foundation at www.EmilyWhitehead.com.