Tonight, let's give a standing ovation to Emily & Isabella!

SooToday.com has received the following note from Emily Gair, who will be at the Essar Centre with her three-year-old daughter Isabella to drop the puck at tonight's game between Soo Greyhounds and Plymouth Whalers.

Emily is spokesperson for the 2009 Relay for Life.

************************* It all started by multiple visits to the hospital with a battery of tests for recurring pains in my stomach which went unsuccessfully diagnosed for over five months.

Still 19 years old on December 9, 2004, I was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the lymph nodes (glands).

I didn’t know it at the time, but my doctor didn’t think I would make it through Christmas.

I went through six months of intense chemotherapy, several blood transfusions and hospitalizations.

Two months into treatment, I was told I had a 15 percent chance of survival.

Eleven days after my last treatment, I found out I was pregnant.

For me, it was a miracle.

It was a mixed blessing.

It felt like a miracle because I was told I may never be able to have children.

I went from having a small chance of survival to conceiving a child six months later!

After finishing treatments, you focus on trying to reintegrate yourself into society.

You just want to have a normal life and be normal.

I was told that the pregnancy might cause my cancer to come back and I had to decide if I wanted to keep my child in spite of risking my life.

Through everything I was bound and determined to be normal and make my life normal.

I went to school full-time while pregnant, took a course during chemotherapy, took courses while at home with my daughter.

I finished my high school full-time load in January 2006 and gave birth in February 2006 and went to my graduation with my daughter, Isabella in June.

Today I own a house, attend university in the business administration program, care for my beautiful daughter Isabella.

I take every opportunity to live life to the fullest!

I am currently working towards my dreams of becoming a motivational speaker.

I plan on owning my own motivational speaking business.

What will be different with my company is that you can receive inspired entertainment.

I am combining musical performance with motivational speaking.

You will go see a great concert and also be motivated and inspired!

I am also working towards getting into Sheridan College for dance, theatre and music.

I attend dance and voice lessons, have acted in a movie and I am auditioning for many upcoming plays, to add more to my resume of the performing arts.

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