New York City girl. Travel. Yoga enthusiast. Philantropist. 25. Virginia Tech Hokie. Outgoing. Spin nut. Fashionista. Cancer survivor. Jewelry queen. Hokie. Slight accent. Southern charm. Northern pace. Positive. Foodie. Kappa Delta. Young Adult Cancer Advocate. 
                                                                    sweet emily.

Hello! I'm Emily of Emily in the City. The above words and adjectives are ME. I was born in April of 1987 and since then, I've been... well everywhere!I currently live in NYC and work for a fantastic finance company.

Most people want to know about my cancer experience. But, I want you to remember - I'm so much more. I'm all those words. In April of 2011, a week before my 24th birthday, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor late on a Thursday night. By Saturday, I was having my first of three brain surgeries to alleviate hydrocephalus that had been causing terrible headaches and nausea.

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After three brain operations, five spinal taps and almost a month straight in the hospital, I was sent home for good. Last summer, I powered through 6 weeks of radiation with concurrent chemotherapy. I would not have made it without the tremendous support of my family and my project that began while still in a hospital bed - fundraising for the National Brain Tumor Society.

In Oct 2012, I met with my oncologist. It was time to take an MRI, and evaluate the last twelve months of chemotherapy - 5 days on, 23 days off, 12 months of my existence, life altering - no life saving - treatment. My doctor told me we were done. Remission, was his word.

But I know remission is not the answer or the end of the story. Brain tumors are nasty, crippling, aggressive tumors. They are sneaky and resilient. They have told me that mine will grow again. Research is my key. Research can save my life. I fundraise for the National Brain Tumor Society because remission is not the end or the beginning - it is the middle. Until there is a cure, I will fight every day.

 

Since February of 2013, I have been fighting a new battle - a tumor on my optic nerve. The tumor has already claimed sight in my right eye and now I am losing vision in my left. Losing my vision is both physically and emotionally painful. As we (the doctors and I) raise to fight this tumor and get ahead of it, I am trying to see as much as I can. To read more about this, please see the "to-see" page that I have posted.