HOLLAND, Mich. — 12-year-old Emerson Hoogendoorn, affectionately known as “Emerson the Brave,” passed away last Thursday after battling a rare form of cancer, diffuse midline glioma, for most of her life.
“She was a fighter, she liked to do things herself and didn't want to depend on anybody else and unfortunately, the second round of cancer kind of took a lot of that away from her,” Barb Francis, Emerson’s grandmother said.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has shared her story in the past and most recently in June when a fundraiser was held to help get her a bike to regain some of her strength. It was an event that was widely supported by community members as well as students and teachers from her school.
“Someone donated the bike before we even had the walkathon that day, so they brought it out to the walkathon and surprised her and the family,” Francis said. "We did get Emerson on the bike, so she was able to ride the bike, but unfortunately things went a lot faster than we anticipated and she didn't get a chance to get on it again but she had a big smile on her face when she was on the bike riding."
Emerson’s grandmother Barb Francis describes her granddaughter as selfless, willing to do the most for others and often putting herself second. She was inspired to pursue a career as a child life specialist, which would afford her the opportunity to be the same person her specialists were to her during her treatment.
"She was sassy, spunky, wise beyond her years, kind, crafty and just so sweet and so very kind,” Francis said.
Francis said her granddaughter had dreams of giving back to other children with cancer.
The passing of Emerson is a loss for community members who supported her through each phase of her journey with cancer. Memories and fond pictures remind Francis of how the time she had with her granddaughter were the memories she'll now cherish forever.
“Time is too precious, take advantage of it and just use that time that you have because it can be gone very quickly,” Francis said.
In her memory, the family will start a scholarship for children with cancer who pursue careers of similar interest as Emerson. A book, written by Emerson, will be published this fall in September. The book aims to inspire other children battling cancer to have hope while undergoing treatment for cancer.