February's Making a Difference winner: Emma Paige Foundation

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - News 18 and Frontier Communications team up each month to honor people who are "Making A Difference" in the community.

This month we salute Lafayette-based Emma Paige Foundation, which provides financial support ranging from medical bills, to gas and toys for families with children battling cancer.

Little Emma Paige continues fighting for her life. Born Aug. 15, 2007, she was diagnosed at 5 months old with a brain tumor.

After an unsuccessful attempt to remove it, doctors determined it was inoperable. That started her ongoing journey with chemotherapy.

"We found out last week that her tumor is dying off drastically like in the middle,” Emma Paige Foundation’s Arin Titus said. “A lot of the cells in the middle of the tumor have died."

We first met Emma in 2010. At the time her tumor was growing rapidly.

Since then this pint-sized miracle has completed more than 170 treatments of chemo and endured numerous strokes, losing the ability to walk, her sight and even the chance to say, “I love you.”

"It's been a roller coaster ride of emotions,” Arin said. “I always describe it to people as being at the top of a roller coaster but your seatbelt's unlocked and you can't get it locked because you're going down full speed ahead."

Wanting to help other children also fighting for their lives, a group of family and friends created the Emma Paige Foundation.

"It truly is a pleasure to be able to provide this support to families,” Emma Paige Foundation Vice President Brandon Titus said. “Because, not many understand that a comfort item might be food on the table that night, or clothes on their back or paying for that medical expense."

From car washes, to galas, to car shows, the Emma Paige Foundation works hard all year to raise money for cancer awareness.

Meanwhile, Little Emma keeps fighting.

"2013 will hopefully be an amazing year for her health,” Arin said. “ And the foundation will hopefully grow."

And remain a beacon for children battling cancer.

If you would like to learn more about the Emma Paige Foundation or you want to donate head to the foundation’s website.

You can also nominate someone you know working to make our community a better place for our Making a Difference Award.