Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Emily couldn’t wait to get back to chuch this morning! She was able to go back in her Sunday School class and eagerly headed into the sanctuary for the worship service afterward. Aunt Crystal and cousin Shelby came to help celebrate Emily returning to church. It was truly an emotional day as the entire congregation joined in giving thanks and praises to God for sustaining Emily thus far. “Emily’s Song” was played for all to enjoy as they said WELCOME HOME EMILY! Emily and family got lots of hugs and well wishes as everyone was so happy to see them. Its been 9 months since Emily was taken to Duke and everyone wanted a chance to greet her.

After church Emily & family enjoyed having a big family dinner at Nana & Grandaddy’s house. Then they headed back home for Emily to play some more! What a fantastic day!

Love,
Stephanie

Emily might not be quite up to par, but you need to eat your wheaties to keep up with her! Saturday morning started with “Emily’s Day in the Park”. Emily arrived at the Hampsted Kiwanis Park with a big smile on her face and ready to lead the 3K Walkathon! She led the walk via a 6-seater golf cart with her daddy driving, & mommy riding as co-pilot. Granny Mom, Nana, Grandaddy, Great Grandma ‘Rene, & cousin Shelby went along for the ride too! Paw Paw & Aunt Crystal joined the Walkathon group. Upon returning to the park, Emily enjoyed playing in the inflatable jumpers before they got too busy. You should have seen the big smile as she slid down the 18′ slide with Aunt Crystal! After visiting lots of folks in the park, she went home to rest for a while. Emily returned at 1:30 to draw the winning raffle tickets, but there were so many, she got cold on stage and let big brother Trey finish the job!

Saturday night, after resting a few more hours, Emily was able to attend the Pender County Relay for Life Survivor’s Banquet at her home church, Barlow-Vista Baptist, where she was the Belle of the Ball! All dressed up in a pretty denim jumper, matching socks, shoes & head scarf, she enjoyed eating chicken and phil peas! While others were finishing their meal, she wanted to visit her Sunday School & Mission Friends rooms, so she and I sneaked away! I can’t tell you what a blessing it was to see her little face light up when she sat at the table in these rooms and pointed out where the story books, coloring books, crayons & drawing paper were located. Needless to say, we returned to our reserved table with paper & crayons in hand where Emily proceeded to draw a beautiful picture of a rainbow and flowers.

Emily listened intently to Mr. Gary Cavenaugh share his amazing battle with oral cancer and share his testimony about how God works in mysterious ways and gives you comfort and peace just when you need them most. Emily’s mom, Dawn, was next to speak and shared Emily’s story from when she first started having headaches last summer, through her surgeries at Duke, to Emily’s current health status. For the first time speaking in public, Dawn did an awesome job!

What a fun filled day but Emily had to be exhausted! When the evening was over Emily and family returned home for a much needed night of rest!

Love,
Stephanie

Well, as most of you know by now, Emily is “HOMIE HOME” for a long weekend. She was so excited that she packed a little bit everyday this week until she & her mom left Durham this afternoon. A local sign shop near their apartment decorated the van with butterflies and “Yeah Emily” on the side windows & “Emily’s bound for Hampstead, NC from Duke Children’s Hospital – Welcome Home” across the entire back window and off they headed home to us! While they were on the road, Emily’s Encouragers, Family, Volunteers & Supporters were busy hanging banners, bows and marker flags. Approximately 2000 marker flags, 200 bows, and countless banners and posters were placed from the Hampstead Food Lion intersection, up Hwy. 17 North to Sloop Point Loop Rd. and all the way down Doral Drive to Emily’s House. There was so much pink & purple that all the stores have had to reorder their stock!

Approximately 300 community members were out to Welcome Emily Home this evening! First stop was by Hampstead Beauty & Barber where they and many other business people and friends greeted Emily, many of which met Emily for the 1st time! Next Emily stopped to see the Hampstead Baptist GA’s that were waiting for her with pink flamingos wearing purple neck bows as she turned onto Sloop Point Loop Rd. Then onto the Kiwanis Park where Sloop Point Volunteer Fire Dept. was waiting for her with 4 Fire Trucks! They loaded Emily, Trey, Dawn & Eddie onto the back and the parade began with lights & sirens. Everyone could hear her coming before she got there. As they left the park there more community members on the side of the road waving and cheering as she passed by and then homeward bound she was, as they turned onto Doral Drive with loud cheers, waves, banners, and WWAY TV 3!!! Just as they thought they had left all the cheers behind them at the entrance of Doral, they turned the curve and there in front of them not only was HOME but all her family and next door neighbor “little” friends and “big” friends too that cheered her the final few feet, right to her driveway! Talk about a smile on her face! I must say that the biggest smile was when she saw Paw Paw, Grandaddy, Nana, Grannie Mom & Great Grandma ‘Rene. Emily was overwhelmed with delight and being the quiet little girl she is, she would’t speak a word, but those glistening blue eyes told it all. How happy she was to be home! Mommy too! Eddie & Trey were so happy to have Emily & Dawn back home again, all under the same roof!

TV 3 interviewed the family and told their story on the 11:00 p.m. newscast. Dawn was able to express for their family how greatful they are to be in such a wonderful community. She expressed that mostly they were so thankful for God’s presence in their lives, for all the prayers, the support they’ve had while being away for so long, the financial support and she also asked that we remember those children still at Duke fighting many illnesses. Our Pastor, Paul Brewster, was at the beginning of the “parade” route and didn’t get to hear the kind words spoken about him during the interview, but Dawn wanted him to know how much they appreciated him, his many visits and calls, and “always being there” for them. “Pastor Paul has always been there for us no matter what, all we had to do was call and he was there for us.”

Yes Emily’s Encouragers and Supporters, it has been a long 9 1/2 months and we are so blessed that our Awesome God has seen fit to send Emily back home to us. She has been a lesson to us all to “Live Well, Love Much, & Laugh Often”, what an inspiration she is to us all! We’ve looked deep into our souls for spiritual guidance and faith that at times we thought wasn’t there, but God gave us the inner strength, patience and understanding that He will prevail and His will, will be done. Starting August 4, 2006 we’ve shared many tears of sorrow, pain and fright, but today we shared many tears of a different kind. Today we shared Tears of Joy and what wonderful tears they were! Joyous tears for Emily’s return to us here at home. As I write this tonight I leave you with one thought, which happens to be a song Emily’s Encouragers are learning for a May 19 Gospel Benefit for Emily, “EVEN IN THE VALLEY, GOD IS GOOD, EVEN IN THE VALLEY HE IS FAITHFUL & TRUE, HE CARRIES HIS CHILDREN THROUGH, LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD, EVEN IN THE VALLEY GOD IS GOOD.”
Thank you everyone, for all that you do for Emily & her Family!
Love,
Stephanie
I am privileged to be
Emily’s Encouragers Chairman

Hope to see you all at the Hampstead Kiwanis Park on Saturday, April 21st!
8:00 a.m. Walkathon Registration / Booth & Volunteer Registration
9:15 a.m. Opening Remarks & Introduction of Emily Hollis
9:30 a.m. Walkathon begins / Booths, Concessions, Inflatables Open
11:30 a.m. Kids Karaoke Contest
1:30 p.m. Raffle Drawings (Must be present to win) & Closing Remarks
2:00 p.m. Hope & Healing Bubbles for Emily Finale