In courageous fight
Girl, 7, inspires local residents
By Sharon Makokian
Acorn Staff Writer

Emily Buelow, a Calabasas 7-year-old who’s valiantly fighting leukemia at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, has touched the hearts of schoolmates, neighbors, friends and even total strangers who are reaching out to show support for Emily and her family.

"It just goes to show you what could be accomplished with a common cause of love and selflessness. I think Emily has been a catalyst for people to learn a lot about themselves and their lives," said Tracey Buelow, Emily’s mother.

Friends and schoolmates (from Lupin Hill Elementary) have held fundraisers for the family and even total strangers have become involved (see related stories). A single mother from Northridge found out about Emily and sent a donation and is praying for Emily, said Tracey Buelow.

"Prayer is our best medicine. It’s been an incredible journey for our family. It’s extraordinary—the outpouring of prayer, love and humanity," she said.

"We’ll never be able to repay any of these people, except to live as an example that these things don’t have to destroy families … and can be enlightening," said Tracey.

Although they do their best not to let it disrupt their family, the Buelows are strained as Emily, whom everybody describes as usually happy and cheerful, waits in a hospital isolation room for a recent stem cell transplant to improve her immune system.

After chemotherapy was used to demolish Emily’s own diseased immune system, blood from an umbilical cord (rich in the infection-fighting T-cells that Emily needs), was transfused into her body. The new cells are supposed to give her a healthy immune system, but so far, the process has been slow. Although Emily had the procedure almost a month ago, the cells have not taken hold yet, said Tracey Buelow.

"The doctor said to me, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint.’ We handle each day. That’s the most we can do," she said.

Emily must build up a strong immune system before she can leave her isolation room and return home. While she needs a count of 500 white blood cells, the highest she’s reached has been .14.

Last week was rough for Emily, who developed an allergic reaction to one of the 32 medications that she must take. She turned as red as someone with a severe sunburn and was very uncomfortable from itchiness, according to her mother.

Now, the rash is better, but one day over the weekend, she experienced temporary blindness from one of the medications. Emily couldn’t open her eyes for awhile.

But Emily took it all in stride, said her mother, who stays with Emily all week and sleeps at the nearby Ronald McDonald House. On weekends, her husband, David Buelow, stays with Emily, while Tracey gets a respite at home and spends time with her other children, Max, 6, and Ilsa, 4. Her mother, Mary Ellen Hivner, lives with them and takes care of the children when Tracey’s gone.

"We’re still in rough waters and still in desperate need of blood and platelet donations," said Buelow.

Such donations must be made at Children’s Hospital, 4560 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, near Sunset and Vermont. Donors should make appointments by calling (323) 669-2441, and must specify that they’re donating for Emily Buelow.

"Every time I watch a bag of blood or unit of platelets go into Emily, I feel incredibly blessed. (The donors) have become part of our family. Their life force goes into my daughter," she said.

To give money to the Buelows, please send checks (marked for Emily Buelow), to the Lupin Hill PFC, Lupin Hill Elementary School, 26210 Adamor Road, Calabasas, CA 91302.