On the soccer field, Emily Belfield is the picture of health. In fact, the 14-year-old dreams of making it to the Olympics. But two years ago, Emily was sidelined from her favorite sport when she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in only 800 American children each year.

When Emily was 12, she complained to her parents of a pain in her shoulder. Her pediatrician sent the Belfields to the emergency room. Eight hours later, Emily was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and was sent to Roswell Park for chemotherapy treatments.

“When we first walked into Roswell Park, we were pretty nervous,” said Phil Belfield, Emily’s dad. “But everyone there took the time to make us feel better and ensure that we understood everything that was happening. They had a plan.”

The staff played an important role in Emily’s comfort, too. During the worst times, “she would have a fever or feel sick, and we would have to drive back to Roswell just hours after a treatment,” said Emily’s mom, Leann. “But it was such an uplifting place. The nurses, social workers and other staff were always ready with a joke to make Emily laugh.”

“Even when I was going in for chemo, the nurses made sure I had fun,” said Emily. “They made me feel normal again, like I wasn’t sick anymore.”

Emily enrolled in Carly’s Club at Roswell Park soon after her diagnosis. The events and programs made treatment more bearable for her family, and connected them to kids and parents who were going through the same difficult time.

“Carly’s Club gave me something to look forward to,” said Emily, whose favorite events included meeting Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman. “And it made my parents feel better to see me happy.”

Now, Emily is in remission and back to tackling normal teenage challenges: friends, schoolwork and of course, her favorite sport. After missing two years on the soccer field, Emily made the junior varsity team at Lockport High School.

Emily’s message of hope for the holidays: Stay positive even in the most challenging of circumstances. “Emily is a very positive person,” said Emily’s father, Phil. “She never asked, ‘Why me?’ But when things weren’t going well, Carly’s Club and Roswell Park made a world of difference.”