VITAS Hospice Medical Director Dr. Lauren Loftis: This Is Why I Am a Physician, Thank You, Emma June

Emma June Kent proudly earned her Viera Excessive College diploma as a graduate of the Class of 2023

Emma June Kent died on October 8, 2023, at age 17, at residence surrounded by her family members and her VITAS hospice care workforce.

It’s a uncommon factor to know a hero. Not too long ago, I’ve had the privilege of spending time within the firm of a hero named Emma June Kent. Emma June is a exceptional seventeen-year-old woman. I’ve discovered a lot from her about life and energy in adversity. You is likely to be stunned by the quantity of pleasure and brilliance radiating from this younger woman.

I do know I used to be. You may end up re-examining your ‘why’. My expertise of figuring out and caring for Emma June has modified my life for the higher and bolstered why I do that work. My expertise as Emma June’s hospice physician is likely one of the most superb issues I’ve ever had the privilege of doing. For this reason I’m a physician.

Emma June has an apt surname – Kent – which she shares with a well-recognized comedian ebook superhero. She, nevertheless, shouldn’t be a personality in a DC sketch. She is a real-life hero. Emma June was identified with osteosarcoma on the age of 14 after moving into for analysis of what was regarded as a sports activities harm to her knee.

Whereas Superman was imbued along with his crime-fighting powers and supernatural energy by the character of his delivery, Supergirl was imbued together with her cancer-fighting powers and supernatural energy by the character of the strain cooker that may be a pediatric malignancy, with the grace of her sturdy religion in God.

The Kent household shares Crew Emma June bracelets emblazoned with Psalm 76:26: “My flesh and my coronary heart could fail, however God is the energy of my coronary heart and my portion without end.” Emma June has grown stronger than her illness. She enrolled in hospice companies at seventeen, seizing management over her life and embodying her sturdy religion.

Emma June had walked by means of the hearth of chemotherapy and radiation, solely to be requested to endure an above-the-knee amputation of her affected leg. She’d been on this journey amid adolescence, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, and regardless of the myriad of remedies, her most cancers had progressed and metastasized.

All alongside, Emma June had doggedly pursued her coursework even from a hospital mattress with nausea from chemo. She was brave and devoted to her research.

I met Emma June through the summer season earlier than her senior 12 months in highschool. Emma June, her mother, and her brothers got here to my workplace to fulfill me and speak about hospice.

Let me be clear. Most grown adults run the opposite method once they hear a hospice physician will probably be coming to talk with them. Emma June and her household tribe got here to me. When Emma June rolls right into a room, you realize she’s there – even from her wheelchair, her smile and power fill the area.

She needed to fulfill me and my workforce and know if we may assist her take management of the time she had left. She’d been given her hero’s cape, and he or she was able to put on it. Most cancers may take a hike. This was Emma June’s present now.

She needed assist together with her signs and to reside her life to the fullest. She needed to have enjoyable together with her family and friends and be a youngster, and he or she was trying ahead to highschool commencement.

I stated, “Proper on!” and our workforce at VITAS Healthcare was drafted onto Crew Emma June.

Emma June spent her summer season reaching her objectives. We found out a routine to maintain her signs at bay, and he or she went on a cruise trip and several other journeys, together with going out to Las Vegas to see Adele in live performance. When faculty kicked again into gear this fall, Emma June was proper again at it, engaged on her two remaining credit required for commencement.

A number of weeks in the past, I acknowledged that we would not make it till Might, and I had an sincere dialog with Emma June and her dad and mom. Emma June determined that she did need that top faculty diploma. Her dad and mom, our workforce, and her supportive faculty district determined she deserved that top faculty diploma and commencement expertise.

After some thought, Emma June gave us all of the thumbs up, and our neighborhood flew into motion to tug this off for her.

Inside every week, we had an avalanche of help for this occasion. Emma June’s church supplied their sanctuary to host a full-on commencement ceremony. Gary Miracle, who misplaced all 4 limbs to sepsis after influenza, agreed to offer the invocation. Her youth pastor agreed to emcee all the occasion.

Her highschool principal was able to go in full regalia to bestow a diploma and facilitate the commencement ceremony. The highschool orchestra supplied a quartet to play pomp and circumstance.

Native cheerleaders got here to have fun, and an area pilot donated his companies to offer a celebratory fly-over. There have been balloons, caps, robes, and an auditorium full of folks. It was the perfect commencement ceremony I’ve ever witnessed – and I’ve attended many.

The explanation it was so spectacular was Emma June. Everybody in that auditorium, and everybody tuning in on-line, was there to witness the miracle of commencement and to have fun one graduate.

Everybody who attended Emma June’s commencement celebrated her achievement. Once I see Emma June at 17, I see energy, grace, and knowledge far past her age. Her medical situation doesn’t outline her. She radiates pleasure for all times.

She has turned most cancers on its tail and used it to gasoline her skill to impression everybody she meets positively. Emma June made probably the most of her highschool expertise. I don’t know if I’ve ever met somebody so enthusiastic about or worthy of their diploma. Seeing her roll throughout the stage to obtain her diploma together with her brothers at her aspect and her household within the entrance row was staggeringly lovely and awe-inspiring.

Thanks, Emma June and household, for permitting our workforce to stroll this journey with you.

Emma June Kent died on October 8, 2023, at age 17, at residence surrounded by her family members and her VITAS hospice care workforce.