Despite the playful adornments of girlhood – the turquoise headband, the painted nails, and the candy-colored jewelry – 13-year-old Grace Emery is a brave and sensitive young soul, mature beyond her years.

By any measure, those qualities have been tested since her diagnosis with neuroblastoma – a cancer that forms in nerve tissue – four years ago.  Initially, doctors at Vermont Children’s Hospital found a mango-sized neuroblastoma tumor on her tailbone.  Following specialized testing, she received chemotherapy at the Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen. Grace then underwent further surgery and a bone marrow transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital, at which point she was declared in remission.

But two years later, a quarter-sized tumor was found on Grace’s spine, and she needed additional chemotherapy and radiation, including an experimental medication available only here in Vermont as part of scientific research being conducted by Giselle Sholler, M.D. Grace required the care of a team of providers with specialty training in pediatric surgery, tumor biology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and endocrinology – the type of experience that is the hallmark of an academic medical center.

Today, Grace is again in remission.  Ask her how she has dealt with the whole experience, and she readily shares her thoughts: "What helped me was learning what comes next," she said.  "You need to figure out what things will make the treatment more bearable."

Vermont Children’s Hospital staff did everything they could to tell Grace "what was coming next," during her treatment, letting her know what all the "big medical words" meant, and explaining upcoming procedures.

Staff also gave her some creative ways to express herself.  When she told one of her nurses that she loved the smell of nail polish – a peculiar side effect of her treatment – her nurse suggested that they regularly paint her nails.  And from there, a small industry was born: Grace began giving fellow patients and Vermont Children’s Hospital staff manicures – and built up quite a business while on Baird 5!

Today, Grace is excited about her responsibilities as the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network champion – and, in character, she takes those responsibilities seriously.  But she’s also enjoying being just a regular 7th grader at Milton Junior High School.  She finds time to enjoy some of her passions – scrapbooking and jewelry-making – and next on the agenda is dance classes.

"I’m really happy to be feeling good again," she said. "I want other kids who get sick to know that you do have to not be afraid to tell people what you need and the staff at the Vermont Children’s Hospital will make it happen.  I know, because it worked for me."