Emily adds finishing touches to her gingerbread house.
Emily Dao sits cross-legged on the floor of the Delta Zeta house constructing a gingerbread house with a group of her sorority sisters. While she artfully paints a pink heart on the cookie roof and dots it with Wildberry Skittles, the girls gossip about guys, exams and the upcoming winter break.
Half the candies never make it to the house, though, and Emily takes spoonfuls of Betty Crocker rainbow icing in between giggles.
"My whole stomach is M&Ms and Skittles right now," she says, glancing up at a TV playing "The Holiday."
Armed with her solar-bright smile and confetti-sweet laugh, Emily, 20, enjoys such precious moments with her closest friends, but she's afraid too few nights like this remain.
Barely a month ago, doctors told the Fairfax native the stomach pains she'd been experiencing for almost 28 weeks had been caused by the uncontrollable growth of a tumor five inches in diameter that was blocking her colon. She has been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that has metastasized to her liver and lungs.
Emily shrieks as she notices the gingerbread house beginning to topple. She and her friends struggle to keep the building from sliding under the pressure of the thick layer of icing and candy on the roof. They prop up one side using a Milk Duds box as a support.
"I think it's working," Emily says.
After a few minutes waiting for the icing to set, the building appears to stand stable under its own sugary weight. Emily subtly grimaces, scratching underneath her gray sweater at her lower left abdomen, close to where a patch releases Fentanyl, a pain-reducing drug about 80 times more potent than morphine.
"How many DZs does it take to make a gingerbread house?" Emily asks, as she begins to count the girls in the room. "It took seven DZs two hours."
The gingerbread house is complete, and all the girls laugh at Emily's joke. It's her last night at Tech before she heads home for a job interview and a PET-scan in the morning. All the girls in the Delta Zeta sorority are aware their friend is gravely ill. But the topic of conversation that night never strays toward cancer. They all know what Emily's doctors have told her. She is too far along. There is little they can do to stop it.
Close to midnight some of the girls talk about getting ready for bed, but they stay in the room regardless, reluctant to leave Emily's buoyant presence.
In recent weeks Emily has had to face a mortal decision. Her doctors have explained if she foregoes chemotherapy she would have two to three months to live based on the late stage of her cancer. With chemo, she may expect anywhere between six and 12 months.
Would she do as her doctors suggested, taking some time to herself in order to travel the world? Or should she undergo agonizing chemotherapy for the next six months and be surrounded by her friends and family?
"I love you guys," Emily says to the girls around her.
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This is truly heartbreaking! But what an inspiration Emily can be! She has my prayers!
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Wow this is very sad, but I am praying for Emily because I know she can beat this!!!
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Emily is a beautiful and amazing person, I am praying for her and hope that recovery is speedy!
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What an amazing girl-keep fighting!!
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God Bless you, pray and believe, my prayers are with you and your family. You are amazing and God watches over you.
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all to often we are reminded of how precious each day we take a break really is. My prayers are also with you and your family!
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Keep on Fighting Emily! May God bless you.
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I'm not sure if you know me but I think I've seen you at Oakton before. May God bless you and keep fighting! I'll be praying for you!
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hope u doing well, keep over come, i'll pray for u
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You're an amazing person. Keep fighting and stay strong and positive. Your mind and attitude are stronger than your body. You are in my prayers!
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Emily, have faith in God. The creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). He is a healer. Nothing is too hard for Him. A friend of mine went through it also - the pain and the chemo and she was sick too. But we serve an awesome God and like you, she had friends and family who encouraged and prayed with her and for her. She has come a long way. She is getting better each and every day. Never lose hope. God said that he will never leave you nor forsake you. He is your helper (Hebrews 13:5-6). When it is too much for you, God allows you to cast all of your cares on Him for He careth for you (I Peter 5:7). God Bless.
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Keep fighting girl, you have what it takes to win!!
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Emily, I and my wife will be praying for you and the kids in KIDS Church will be lifting you up to Jesus and praying for you also. Emily, I would like to ask you a question if I may and that is "if you would die from this where would you spend eternity. Emily there is heaven and there is hell, but you will be the one to decide where you will go. Just recently Emily I found out my cousin had cancer and she was 42 and has an 18 year old daughter and is graduating in a few months. I knew that my cousin didn't know Jesus as her Lord And savior so I shared the gospel with her and she did receive and ask Jesus into heart to forgive her of her sins. Yes she did die but she is in heaven today Emily because she did repent, I ask you Emily to consider it also. WE will be praying for you. God Bless
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Butch, obviously Emily doesn't need to worry about this, because she WILL beat this... keeping a fellow Hokie in my prayers
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Emily--this is Nikki's Aunt Tina. I know what you are about to endure and your positive attitude and the love surrounding you from your family and friends will get you through this. Ask Nikki to tell you about her 10 year old cousin, Riley who had a brain tumor and seven brain surgeries last year. Our prayers were answered and we will all pray that yours are too.
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Emily, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT....you are right, you are only 20 years old, you are way too young....you're going to do so many wonderful things. You're strong, you can beat it.
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I don't know you nor any of your friends on a personal level, but I read this article and it made my eyes teary. I lost my sister last year from stroke. Keep fighting Emily.. you'll pull through. Have hope.. and stay strong.
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DZ girls, this is Pocket's mom. Keep Emily in your thoughts and prayers and give her all the love and support you can, and you will make a huge difference for her and especially for the family that loves her and hates having her go through this. Emily, enjoy your family foremost this season. They love you more than life. Courtney's mom
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My prayers are with Emily and her family. I work with her dad and he's a pleasure to work with; so i know her sorority sister's will continue to do all the help raise funds for Emily.
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Healer - by Hillsongs You hold my every moment You calm my raging seas You walk with me through fire And heal all my disease Pre-Chorus: I trust in You I trust in You Chorus: I believe You're my Healer I believe You are all I need I believe You're my Portion I believe You're more than enough for me Jesus You're all I need [Repeat Verse] [Repeat Pre-Chorus} [Chorus] Bridge: Nothing is impossible for You Nothing is impossible for You Nothing is impossible for You You hold my world in Your hands .. Hey Emily take heart, God's good and perfect will is going to unfold, whatever it may be. Romans 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord¡¯s." "The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, but the righteous has a refuge when he dies." Proverbs 14:32
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Emily, may God Bless you and your family. I use to work with your dad and I remember when he would bring you to work him when you were a little girl. He has always been so proud of you and your sister. You and your family are in my prayers. Your strength is amazing, GOD BLESS YOU.
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Ohmygod Emily! That's so sad what's happening throughout your body right now; you must be going through a lot lately. And I know your sister; she's in my tennis class and swim team :D Good luck! And god bless you!
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Hi Emily, I'm a friend of your cousin from the OC. I admire your courage, unselfishness, and positive attitude through all this. You have many people that love and care for you so never give up hope and keep your spirits high! I can see that you are an intelligent, beautiful, and ambitious girl (runs in the family) that has lots of potential to be successful at whatever you chose to do. Be strong and recover soon so you can come back to the OC to vacation again! My prayers goes out to you and your loved ones...
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I work with your dad. As I ran into him and asked about the family, I was saddend to hear about your illness. Keep your positive attitude. You and your family are in my prayers.
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