The Riley Children's Foundation supports pediatric research and special programs for Hoosier children. Each year, the foundation honors individual patients as "Riley Champions," recognizing the challenges they have overcome.
This year, 12-year-old Emma Stumpf of Greenwood was named a 2015 Riley Champion. At age 7, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
"Time was of the essence. And if we didn't do an operation to relieve the pressure off of her brain right then and there immediately, that we were going to lose her," said Emma's dad, Craig Stumpf.
The years since have been filled with chemotherapy, radiation, and many trips to Riley Hospital for Children. During her journey, Emma discovered her love of art.
"It helped me express how I was feeling because I wasn't able to usually speak it," Emma said.
Emma took her passion and brought it right back to where it all began. With help from her art teacher Lisa Durst, she started "Emma's Art Cart," filled with art supply kits to deliver to other Riley kids.
"I want to help others, just like she's helped me," Emma said about Lisa Durst.
"We make a great team, don't we?" Durst said.
Emma even decorated a lab coat for her neurosurgeon, Dr. Laurie Ackerman.
"She's just one of those people it's impossible not to remember and impossible not to like," Dr. Ackerman said.
"Always smiling, always happy and always positive. So it's hard to ever think life is bad when she's around," Craig Stumpf said.
"She just continues to fight and be strong and surpass all of our expectations and the doctors'," said Emma's mother, Lori Stumpf.
Emma named her tumor, "Herman." Right now her family says Herman has been "sleeping," meaning they aren't seeing any signs of growth.
The Riley Children's Foundation's "Gift of Hope Happens Here" campaign runs through the end of the year.
For more information on how to get involved, click here.
