For the past three years Emily Miller has been a part of the UTM Skyhawk soccer team. Her statistics are nothing to brag about, but she contributes, has a great work ethic and understands the team concept.

Unfortunately, Miller is battling osteosarcoma, bone cancer.

Osteosarcoma is a cancer that, typically, strikes children from 10-20 years old. The current survival rate is 70 percent if limb sparing surgery and chemotherapy are used.

“She endures incredible nerve pain daily, and has a limp, but she is just as positive today as she was before she had cancer,” says Catherine Miller, Emily’s mother. Despite her illness, soccer is still important to Emily.

“When the going really gets tough and you just don’t think you have it in you to take another step, rub your purple pre-wrap bracelet and know that I am cheering you each on as you battle today,” Emily wrote. “Stay positive and fight like hell! You girls are my heroes and I cannot wait to see you all again.”

Miller’s note was taped to the wall in the Skyhawk soccer locker room for each team member to read before they walked down to the field behind the Elam Center.

Before her diagnosis, Emily played soccer and was on the Dean’s List. When a persistent pain in her leg became unbearable in April 2003, she went home to see the family’s orthopedic surgeon. The next day she was referred to an oncologist, and two days after that, she underwent a biopsy.

Less than one week from going home, Emily was admitted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Her chemotherapy began April 22, 2003, and will continue through March.

Miller underwent seven hours of limb sparing surgery to remove the tumor in her femur, which included removing portions of both her femur and tibia, plus total removal of the knee. Titanium prosthesis was implanted inside her leg from the top of her thigh to just above the ankle.

Less than 36 hours passed from limb sparing surgery and Emily was released from the intensive care unit.

“Through 14 weeks of grueling rehabilitation, Emily has learned to walk again and has about 125 degrees bend, which is unusual progress for this type of prosthesis,” Mrs. Miller said. Emily has also attended every soccer game she could this season. “She perseveres through the pain of walking, so she can be with her team to cheer them on,” Mrs. Miller said.

Emily’s teammates have been so inspired by her that they printed t-shirts with the message “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”

The t-shirts are not all Emily has inspired. The entire UTM campus participated in a fund raiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital called the Million Mile Marathon, where pledges are made for miles run by students and faculty. The UTM sports management class in conjunction with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the service organization, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, sponsored the event.

The Million Mile Marathon consisted of participants walking the first 25 miles on their own, at their own pace. The participants had family, friends and co-workers pledge a dollar amount for each mile completed.

All Million Mile Marathon participants met at 3 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center and walked the final mile of the marathon together. Miller and her mother Catherine, were in attendance.

“I can’t express how incredibly proud I am of the UTM community,” said Danelle Fabianich, UTM athletics business manager. “We concluded the Million Mile Marathon and the response was overwhelming. With approximately 200 people walking, donations have reached $4,300 with many ‘promises’ still outstanding. My true hope is to reach $5,000.”

Beyond the confines of UTM, Emily has become a spokesperson for the hospital, appearing in the upcoming video, “A Time for Hope,” with Marlo Thomas. She also speaks to groups and individuals about the wonderful things happening at St. Jude, in order to raise money for the hospital.

Emily’s life has changed. Currently, she lives at home in Memphis and is unable to drive because of the pain medication she takes daily. She has no hair, and she doesn’t attend college. But she plans to return to college next fall to complete her degree in Spanish.

“She won’t play soccer again, but she will be right there beside her teammates and her friends," Miller said.

“She plans on attending nursing school after that. The hospital has a desperate need for Spanish speaking nurses at the hospital, so Emily wants to give back to the place that saved her life,” Mrs. Miller said.