Special ride set up to help local girl
LAUREL — “Sugar and spice, and everything nice. That’s what little girls are made of.” Emry Huse is no exception to this.
However, Huse’s parents, Nate and Alicia (Gothier), noticed a change in her behavior in May of 2019.
“She started not to act herself, became very clingy, was sleepy, and would stand on the sidelines of life instead of playing with her friends. She would point to her chest and say that her tummy hurt,” Alicia said.
The Huse’s took her in for observation and initially she was diagnosed with constipation. However, by July 1, 2019, the Huse’s had discovered multiple bumps on Emry’s head and side. A trip to the doctor led to a blood draw where her white blood cell count was 92,000. Normal counts are between 5,000-11,000.
Huse was admitted to Children’s Hospita in Omaha, Nebraska where they diagnosed her with Pre-B cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It was there that they placed a Peripheral inserted central catheter line (PICC) in her arm and administered the first round of chemo the following day.
The Huse’s called the hospital home for 17 days in a row while she received steroids, chemotherapy, blood draws, and spinal chemotherapy.
Over the course of nine months, Huse received intense treatments and infusions. Along with intermittent hospital stays due to allergic reactions and other side effects of treatment, she has developed adrenal gland deficiency, which causes her to have low blood sugars.
Huse is currently in the maintenance phase which consists of five cycles of treatment that will last until November 2021. She will have regular checkups over the next 10 years to be sure she doesn’t relapse.
“Emry is starting to be herself again. She loves to be home, riding her bike, camping, playing with her sister (Avalee,10), and taking the family’s dog, Buddy, for walks.” said her mom, Alicia.
Family and friends of the Huse’s are putting on a benefit for the family. The “Ride for Emry to Fight Leukemia” Benefit is Saturday, Aug. 15 in Laurel. The ride begins at the Laurel Veteran’s Club at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a bake sale, silent auction, and free will donation supper beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Emry’s grandparents are Cindy and Kyle Miller, Laurel, Kevin and Cynthia Gothier, Winside, and Allan and Kathy Huse, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. Her great grandparents are Caroline and the late Melvin Loberg, Laurel, and the late Austin and Delilah Gothier formerly of Dixon.
