Emma makes it to her fifth birthday
Milestone for leukaemia sufferer
HANNAH FLEMINGNew Plymouth's Emma Watson has 2706 beads.
She can tell you exactly what each bead means but it's bead number 2706 that means the most.
"No more chemo," the bubbly 5-year-old said.
The 2011 face of Child Cancer Foundation celebrated her birthday yesterday, a milestone the Watson family have been uncertain about reaching for the past 2 years.
Back then, Emma was diagnosed with leukaemia, and during intense chemotherapy in October 2010, she contracted a superbug that resulted in her suffering two heart attacks and multiple organ failure.
Mum Joanne said the family had been told to say goodbye to Emma during that time.
"Seeing her turn 5 is pretty extraordinary. It's a huge milestone.
"In October 2010, at that point, we didn't think we'd have today."
Mrs Watson said although the chemotherapy treatment had ended, there were still many challenges ahead for Emma.
"Every 5-year-old knows that when they turn 5 they go to school. Our biggest challenge at the moment is reassuring her that it will eventually happen.
"We're just waiting for her bloods to improve and when they do, we'll get her vaccinated."
Emma has also developed a severe case of osteoporosis, which should eventually improve.
"She's still very fragile. The osteo is a new challenge, but we have to keep looking at the big picture and realise how far she has already come.
"We hope she will have the strength of character to deal with everything if she does face difficulties and is a bit different to the others when she goes off to school."
Mrs Watson said the aggressive nature of Emma's cancer meant they were not out of the woods yet, and the next 18 months were critical in her recovery.
"It's almost like we've got a normal life, but it's also a life where we can't take our eye off the ball."
Mrs Watson said Emma's journey had affected her and husband Michael, and their oth! er six c hildren a great deal, but they'd used humour to get them through the difficult times.
"We make jokes about cancer, we laugh about it.
"It doesn't mean we don't understand the importance of it, it just helps us feel much stronger than cancer.
"As a family we have all grown and are much more in touch with each other. It's an unusual flipside."
Though they plan to tick one month off at a time, Mrs Watson said they were looking forward to the day, not so far away, when Emma could start swimming and ballet lessons.
"The biggest thing for her will be being able to play with other children. At this point her best friends are our friends, or her dog."
Emma's outgoing, polite and matter-of-fact personality suggest she will have no problems when it comes to making her own friends.
- Fairfax NZ News