On April 11, 2007 our daughter, Bridget, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. In Bridget’s case, the mass originated in her spinal cord and progressed into her spinal canal as well as attaching itself to her abdomen. Since her original diagnosis, Bridget endured several failed chemotherapy cycles and 2 major surgeries - also many other tests and procedures that no child should have to go through, but unfortunately, must. Bridget continues with her recovery and has progressed tremendously since beginning her battle.

This was a battle which lasted 5 years. It is with extreme joy and happiness we were able to hear the word “remission” from Bridget’s doctors at CHOP in April of 2012. It has been nearly five years now that Bridget has been cancer free. Bridget still faces physical challenges, but we are hopeful she can overcome these hurdles to ensure living a normal and healthy life. 

It goes without saying that Bridget has endured more in her very short life than many will ever endure in a lifetime. From this, we have always tried to take the good. It’s difficult not to when we see the recovery she is making and how she has gone about it. Her ordeal has brought our family, immediate and extended, closer in ways unimaginable before this all began. Today, we see Bridget approaching her teenage years. It was during the darkest of days that we never thought we would get to enjoy many birthdays with Bridget - let alone her 13th. The word “lucky” may seem an odd one to use when describing a child who has battled and overcome the effects of childhood cancer, but that is how we feel. We are lucky to have such a brave child and lucky to have such a tough sister for her brothers and sisters to look up to. We are lucky to have her as an inspiration to so many. And most of all, we are lucky to her with us knowing that others are not so fortunate.

We sit here today watching Bridget grow into a wonderful and lovely young girl who is full of life and who can’t wait for her next Alex’s Lemonade Stand. However unfortunate, Bridget shared a common thread with so man chldren, as did Alex. It is with this fighting spirit that we join so many of the most vulnerable and precious children of all their families an dfriends, to champion Alex's cause and vision of curing childhood cancer ...one cup at a time. Indeed, we call Bridget “HERO” in the truest sense of the word. Go Bridget!
 

The Smiths
(Denis, Marg, Maeve, Stephen, Brendan, Caroline, Bridget and Dugan)
Updated: November 2016

Photo: The Smith family being honored at the 2013 Lemon Ball as Stand Hosts of the Year