The Cure Wasn’t The End, It Was The Beginning | Emily Whitehead & Tom Whitehead | TEDxFargo
When Tom and Emily Whitehead step onto the TEDx stage, they bring more than a story, they bring a revolution in hope, healing, and human resilience. At age five, Emily was a joyful, healthy child. But when she was diagnosed with leukemia, her family was thrust into a battle they never expected. After enduring 22 months of failed chemotherapy and facing the end of all options, Emily became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR-T cell therapy, a groundbreaking, experimental treatment that brought her into remission in just 23 days.
But this talk isn’t about the miracle of the cure alone, it’s about what came after. Together, Tom and Emily recount their journey through isolation, heartbreak, innovation, and ultimately, advocacy. Tom, a journeyman lineman turned nonprofit co-founder, shares the emotional depths of a father who refused to give up. Emily, now a vibrant young woman thriving beyond cancer, speaks with clarity and conviction about reclaiming her voice and finding purpose in the aftermath of survival.
Through their deeply personal narrative, the Whiteheads inspire audiences to believe in the power of science, the necessity of equitable access to advanced therapies, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child. They illuminate why advocacy isn’t just a choice — it’s a calling. Their story reminds us all: when one life is saved, the journey doesn’t end — it ignites a mission to save countless more. Emily- Co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, patient advocate, University of Pennsylvania college student, 3 time cancer survivor and the first pediatric patient in the world to have her immune system trained to beat her cancer.Tom Whitehead is a keynote speaker, author, and journeyman lineman for an energy company. He is also the proud father of Emily and the co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer immunotherapy research.
Tom, his wife Kari, and their daughter Emily founded the Emily Whitehead Foundation to share their story and support families facing pediatric cancer. At age five, Emily was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia that did not respond to standard treatments. As a last resort, she was enrolled in a groundbreaking clinical trial and became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The treatment was a success—Emily has been cancer-free for over 12 years and is now considered cured. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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