Her mom died in a vehicle accident in March 2022, and soon after her father died of pancreatic cancer in September.
5-year-old Emerie Servantes has experienced two extremely hard years. Two years ago, she received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The San Antonio girl tragically lost both her parents in a matter of months. In March last year, her mother died in a vehicle accident by a drunk driver. Before Emerie was done accepting that, her father died in September, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
She now resides with Linda Servantes, her grandma. In an interview with KSAT, her grandmother shared that Emerie is a very strong girl. A fundraiser for her describes her as "an outgoing, happy young girl who just wanted to have fun" and "loves to dance and sing." She has a very positive outlook toward life despite facing such tumultuous times. When Linda asks Emerie, “Where’s mommy and daddy,” the young girl responds with, “With Jesus.”
Linda stated that Emerie frequently prioritizes the needs of others. "When my son passed away, I was crying and everything and she comes to me with a tissue and she cleans my tears and she says grandma don't cry, everything's gonna be okay," she said to KENS5.
Emerie's parents adored her, and Linda always has stories about them to share with her granddaughter, along with pictures of them. She is grateful that before he went away, her son Johnny, Emerie's father, showed her how to take care of her granddaughter's cancer. “I’m really thankful that my son kind of gave me everything I needed before he left,” Linda said.
Emerie completed her final round of leukemia treatments in December and is now cancer-free, which was a tremendous relief for the family. But without Emerie's father, a trip he had planned before his death for Emerie started to fall through. Luckily, Campaign One at a Time (OAAT), a group that offers support to families by reducing the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, stepped in. "They are, like, they're angels, Linda said expressing her gratitude for all the support she is receiving to fulfill her son's wish to take Emerie on a vacation.
DEVASTATING 😢 5-year-old Emerie Servantes, while battling Leukemia, lost her mom and dad just months apart. Her dad died of a heart attack during a procedure for pancreatic cancer, and her mom was killed by a drunk driver. https://t.co/o5kl7W1jRC
— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) January 9, 2023
Although Emerie's dad wanted to take her to Disney World, at the end of the month, Campaign OAAT is planning a vacation for her in Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock. They also made sure that the little one has a good holiday. Not only did Emerie get her own Christmas tree, "she picked out all the ornaments. Everything," Linda said.
After Emerie's mom had passed on March 27, 2022, Linda started a GoFundMe to support Emerie's treatment expenses. She wrote that "her dad is a very devoted dad" and that both Emerie and her dad has gone through a "lot of pain and suffering."
References:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/10/17/child-battling-leukemia-loses-both-of-her-parents/
https://www.campaignoaat.org/campaign-program/warrioremerie
https://www.gofundme.com/f/loving-dad-of-daughter-who-is-battling-leukemia-ok
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
