The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Announce Their Southwest Missouri Boy and Girl of the Year

Springfield, MO, March 02, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) name Emma Grace Heppner, age 5, and Ethan Hite, age 9, their 2012 Southwest Missouri Boy and Girl of the Year.

The Southwest Missouri Boy and Girl of the Year will serve as inspiration for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year candidates.

Emma Grace Heppner of Marshfield, has been named their honored patient and Southwest Missouri Girl of the Year. Emma Grace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in December of 2009 at age 3. Emma Grace has been the beneficiary of excellent medical treatment, and was staged as “ in remission” on February 4, 2010. She is still undergoing treatment and is scheduled to complete her treatment in July of this year. Emma Grace loves to sing, and paints birdhouses that she sells online for charity.

Ethan Hite of Springfield, has been named their honored patient and Southwest Missouri Boy of the Year. Ethan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in July of 2004. Ethan’s treatments were successful, and his final treatment occurred in September of 2007. While he has been cancer-free for more than four years, Ethan still continues to receive follow up visits once a year to update doctors on his progress.

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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. For more information on the Southwest Missouri Boy & Girl of the Year, or the Southwest Missouri Man & Woman of the Year campaign, please contact Allyson Beach at 417.766.6965 or Allyson.beach@lls.org.