Discover the incredible true story of Emily Whitehead, the first child to receive CAR-T cell treatment for her leukemia -- and learn how her family's faith journey guided them in the fight for her life.
When their five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, Tom and Kari Whitehead's world was shattered. They vowed to do whatever it took to help their daughter, and as they made decisions about how to best treat her, Tom found his faith coming to him in "whispers," guiding his decisions and keeping his hope alive, while Kari placed great faith in science and the doctors surrounding her little girl. But as Emily's condition continued to worsen, they both prayed for a miracle.
Then, their miracle arrived, in the form of an experimental treatment called CAR-T cell therapy that, against all odds, saved Emily's life. Because of Emily's miraculous recovery, this treatment is now used widely to treat cancer and has gone on to save hundreds of lives and promises to help thousands more. For all the acclaim and attention this important new approach to treating cancer has received, few know the full story of all it took to make this miracle happen.
In Praying for Emily, the Whiteheads share their story, recounting the belief, resilience, and support that got them through the most difficult time of their lives.
Discover the incredible true story of Emily Whitehead, the first child to receive CAR-T cell treatment for her leukemia -- and learn how her family's faith journey guided them in the fight for her life.
When their five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, Tom and Kari Whitehead's world was shattered. They vowed to do whatever it took to help their daughter, and as they made decisions about how to best treat her, Tom found his faith coming to him in "whispers," guiding his decisions and keeping his hope alive, while Kari placed great faith in science and the doctors surrounding her little girl. But as Emily's condition continued to worsen, they both prayed for a miracle.
Then, their miracle arrived, in the form of an experimental treatment called CAR-T cell therapy that, against all odds, saved Emily's life. Because of Emily's miraculous recovery, this treatment is now used widely to treat cancer and has gone on to save hundreds of lives and promises to help thousands more. For all the acclaim and attention this important new approach to treating cancer has received, few know the full story of all it took to make this miracle happen.
In Praying for Emily, the Whiteheads share their story, recounting the belief, resilience, and support that got them through the most difficult time of their lives.
Tom, Kari, and Emily Whitehead are co-founders of the
Emily Whitehead Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for
pediatric cancer research. The foundation was created in honor of
Emily who was diagnosed at age five with an aggressive form of
leukemia that failed to respond to chemotherapy. As a last hope,
Emily was enrolled in a clinical trial and became the first child
in the world to receive the pioneering cancer treatment called CAR
T-cell therapy. The therapy worked, and Emily remains cancer
free.
The Whitehead Family travels worldwide as keynote speakers to
inspire others and advocate for research funding to develop less
toxic childhood cancer treatments. When they aren't traveling, Tom
works as a journeyman lineman for a power company, and Kari is a
Registered Dietitian. Emily attends high school and plans to become
an artist or filmmaker. The Whiteheads live in Central Pennsylvania
with their chihuahua named Luna.
Author and journalist Danelle Morton has collaborated on
sixteen books including four New York Times bestsellers.
"A truly beautiful story of the courage of a family who made a
gigantic leap of faith in science and health care, and in so doing,
pushed medicine into the next frontier of what is possible...This
book will allow patients and those who have lost hope to find new
hope, inspiration, and beauty in the possibility of making the
impossible possible.--Christian Barkey, CEO of Barkey GmbH
"A truly remarkable and uplifting story that is a page-turner and
roller coaster ride of emotion all in one! You won't be able to put
it down and you'll be thrilled that you didn't when you get to the
triumphant ending."--Pamela Oas Williams, Film and Television
Producer
"An incredible, beautifully written chronicle of a life-saving
therapy, and the story of the family that endured and brought the
therapy to life. This book is an affirmation of the power of
science merged with the power of faith." --Siddhartha Mukherjee,
New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor of All
Maladies
"Emily impressed me with her fortitude, confident, and nonchalant
attitude. The story of how she and her parents persevered through
the challenges they faced is deeply meaningful to me and I know
will be truly inspirational for others."--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"In this remarkable story, Emily's aggressive childhood cancer is
beaten back when family, faith, and science converge... Emily and
her parents tell their story, bringing us along to share in the
urgency as different treatments are tried, and together they reveal
the promise of cancer research and how immunotherapy has become a
pillar of cancer therapy in just a few short years."--Sung Poblete,
PhD, RN, CEO, Stand Up to Cancer
"Playing in the NFL, I have seen my share of tough individuals who
were successful because their opponents were unwilling to match
their desire to win. Emily's battle with cancer showed this exact
toughness. She would not give up!... The story of Emily overcoming
all odds to beat cancer, the most ferocious opponent, is inspiring
and reinforces the power of hope."--Jon Condo, Retired All Pro NFL
Long Snapper
"Praying for Emily is a thought provoking and heartfelt account of
what it means to face the impossible with prayer. Tom and Kari
looked into the eyes of their sick child and did the one thing that
cancer (and most of the world) did not expect them to do - believe.
Because of their faith, the Whiteheads were not only able to save
their child, but in sharing their personal experience and story of
unrelenting hope - will save so many more. I believe and you will
too."--Lori Rothschild Ansaldi, Documentary Filmmaker, friend,
advocate of life
"There are stories that forever change the way we view human
health. Praying for Emily is a poignant portrayal of the courage
and determination of Emily Whitehead and her family... I am
profoundly moved by the Whitehead family's strength throughout
their journey and inspired by the ways they have wielded their hope
and heartache to help families like them-families who intimately
know what it means to look toward a cancer-free future and fight to
realize it."--Vas Narasimhan, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of
Novartis
"This remarkable story is a hero's journey but it's so much more
than that: it is the essence of the power of love. I don't know the
meaning of life but this is pretty darn close!"--Jason Flom,
Founder, LAVA Media, LLC
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