7-Year-Old With Terminal Cancer Asks For Love Letters From Dogs

HARTLAND, WI — Emma Mertens, a 7-year-old girl from Hartland, is fighting a terminal brain tumor, and her family is asking for your help.

According to a post on her GoFundMe page, Emma is fighting a very rare and inoperable brain tumor called DIPG.

Keeping Emma's spirits up during this challenging time has been a difficult objective for the family, however they say Emma is a huge dog-lover. The Mertens family is asking for members of the public to send love letters from their dogs to her.

Here's how you can send a send a message of your own:

Emma Mertens
P.O. Box 230
Hartland, WI
53029
Email: emmalovesdogs7@gmail.com

According to a JSOnline report, after the family first posted the request for dog photos and supportive messages online, they're getting "mail by the truckload."

Her family said Emma was having a normal weekend playing with friends in the snow earlier this year and wrestling with her brothers. She the got a headache and started having flu-like symptoms.

Later that week, she was rushed into surgery to reduce swelling on the brain. She has had a second surgery now and is preparing for six weeks of daily radiation therapy.

"She is a fighter and she and her family along with everyone on Team Emma are here to fight for her," her family said.

According to the Mertens family, they need financial support to help pay medical bills, living expenses and possible clinical trial logistics. They need to raise an initial $50,000.

According to statistics on the family's GoFundMe page, members of the public have blown past the family's request, raising more than $83,000 by 861 people as of Feb. 27.