By all accounts, 6-year-old Eminence “Emi” is joy personified. 

She loves dinosaurs, sings children’s songs in Spanish, hums throughout the day and greets the world with a joyful spirit that her parents, Katie and Mark, describe as simply infectious. 

“She is so happy,” Katie said. “She’s always humming or singing and laughing. She’s so smart and makes connections that leave us wondering, ‘How did you do that?’” 

But behind Emi’s bright smile is a journey no child should have to endure. 

Last summer, Emi was preparing for one of the biggest milestones of her young life: kindergarten. She had just finished pre-k, which she loved, and her family spent the summer talking excitedly about becoming a “big girl” and starting school. 

Instead, everything changed. 

Emi, who is autistic and low-verbal, was diagnosed with leukemia. 

Her diagnosis came after routine blood work revealed dangerously low hemoglobin levels. A pediatric hematologist called with urgent instructions: take Emi to the emergency room immediately. That transfusion was the beginning of a whirlwind year. 

Emi spent her first 32 days after diagnosis hospitalized. Since then, her life has been filled with chemotherapy, routine procedures, and countless doctor appointments. She still has approximately a year and a half of treatment ahead. 

The chemotherapy often leaves her nauseous and exhausted. Many days, she just wants to lie down and rest. Yet between those difficult moments, Emi’s personality still shines through. 

“Her normal self is running around, being silly and laughing,” Katie said. “It can flip on a dime.” 

For Katie and Mark, the emotional and financial toll has been immense. Both have taken extended time away from work to care for Emi, navigating treatments, medications and the constant fear that even a simple fever could become an emergency. 

Through it all, blood transfusions have become an essential part of Emi’s care. Since her diagnosis, Emi has received approximately 10 transfusions of blood products. Her parents say they notice the difference almost immediately. 

“She starts to get better coloring,” Katie said. “She starts to feel better and perk up more. She has more energy.” 

But beyond helping Emi feel stronger, the transfusions are something she critically needs to continue fighting. As parents, seeing blood arrive in their daughter’s hospital room is emotional every time. 

“Just seeing it there and ready for her gives me so much comfort,” Katie said. “Family and friends can’t donate specifically for her because of potential future treatments like a bone marrow transplant. So we are incredibly grateful for every blood donor.” 

Those donors remain anonymous to Emi’s family, but Mark and Katie have a name for them. 

“Faceless heroes,” Katie said. “They’ve saved her life. We don’t know who they are, but they are literally saving our little girl’s life.” 

Their gratitude has only grown as they’ve learned firsthand how constant the need for blood truly is. Before Emi’s diagnosis, Katie considered herself a supporter of childhood cancer organizations, but she never imagined this would become her family’s reality. 

Every day, patients battling cancer, individuals undergoing surgeries, trauma victims and people living with chronic illnesses rely on blood products. Because blood cannot be manufactured, volunteer blood donors are the only source. 

For families like Emi’s, every donation represents hope. It means another treatment. Another chance to recover. Another opportunity for a little girl with a joyful spirit to sing, laugh and continue being exactly who she is. 

Emi’s parents hope that by sharing their family’s story, people will see the faces behind the need. 

“When I see blood drives online, I always try to comment and thank people,” Katie said. “We want them to see her picture. We want them to know this sweet little girl is one of the people they’re helping.” 

For Emi, blood donors are more than strangers. They are the reason she has more time to grow, to heal and to keep bringing joy to everyone around her. You can cheer Emi on by following her Facebook page, Embracing Emi. To make an appointment to donate blood and help patients like Emi, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.