Idaho Falls Elementary School Rallies Around 4th Grader Battling Aggressive Brain Tumor
IDAHO FALLS — A 10-year-old Idaho Falls girl diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer has become the focus of a community fundraising effort by her elementary school, as teachers, students, and parents band together to help her family face mounting medical costs.
Emma Hill, a fourth grader at Fairview Elementary School, was diagnosed in February with a diffuse midline glioma — a tumor that grows into surrounding brain tissue rather than forming a distinct mass. Emma, with the creativity of a child who had just watched a classic movie, gave the tumor her own name: Ursula.
“It grows in and amongst other tissues like the tentacles of an octopus,” her father, Doug Hill, explained. “We had just recently watched ‘The Little Mermaid’ for the first time with her, so we called it Ursula.”
A Diagnosis That Began With Headaches
Emma’s illness started with what seemed like routine symptoms — unusual sounds in her ears and persistent headaches. When the family first sought medical attention, a positive COVID-19 test appeared to explain her discomfort. But her condition deteriorated. She became bedridden, unable to keep food or water down, and eventually began having seizures.
A CT scan confirmed the presence of the tumor. Emma was airlifted to a medical facility in Salt Lake City, where doctors performed emergency procedures to relieve pressure on her brain. Her father said the intervention was almost certainly life-saving.
“If it hadn’t been caught and done, she probably would have died,” Doug said, adding that a cancer diagnosis wasn’t confirmed until roughly a week or two after Emma was discharged from that initial hospital stay.
Emma is now receiving oral chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Salt Lake City. Physicians have told the family that the median life expectancy for her type of cancer with treatment is 12 to 18 months. However, Doug said at least one patient has reportedly been cured of a similar diagnosis, and a handful of others have survived nearly a decade following detection — facts the Hill family is holding onto as they navigate an uncertain road ahead.
Fairview Elementary Redirects Annual Fun Run to Emma’s Care
Each year, Fairview Elementary’s parent-teacher organization hosts a fun run to raise money for school needs. Students circle a track and collect rubber bands with each completed lap, while family members contribute donations. Funds raised in recent years went toward a new playground.
When the school community learned of Emma’s situation, the decision about where this year’s proceeds would go was straightforward.
“She is like the sweetest thing, she has this thick curly hair, and she’s just sweet and kind and shy,” said Janna Long, a duty aide at the school and member of the parent-teacher organization.
Because of the circumstances, the PTO extended the donation window beyond the typical fun run timeline. Contributions are being accepted online through Sunday, May 24.
Outside of her health battle, Emma is described as an energetic, curious child who competes on a swim team, enjoys rock climbing, plays piano, and builds with LEGOs. She loves animals and has set her sights on becoming a zoologist. A stuffed animal named Daisy — a gift from her best friend during her first hospital stay — has accompanied Emma to every radiation treatment.
Her father summed up what his daughter wants most amid the upheaval of doctors, treatments, and hospital stays.
“Emma just wants to be a normal kid,” Doug said. “That’s what she wants more than anything else.”
What Comes Next
The online donation window for Emma’s fundraiser closes Sunday, May 24. Emma’s treatment continues at a Salt Lake City medical center, with the Hill family commuting for ongoing chemotherapy and radiation sessions. The Fairview Elementary community is expected to remain a source of local support as the family manages care costs and travel demands in the weeks and months ahead.
For other community events happening in the Idaho Falls area, the Street Summit regional gathering is open to the public Monday in Idaho Falls. Residents looking for additional ways to engage with the broader community can also find coverage of local and statewide developments at Idaho News.