Emily Knerr

At just six years old, Emily Knerr, BS, CCLS, certified child life specialist at Children's of Alabama, faced a diagnosis that would change the course of her life forever.

Diagnosed with ovarian small cell carcinoma of the ovary, she and her family suddenly found themselves navigating a world of chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation and uncertainty. Doctors gave her a 94% chance of mortality. Despite the devastating prognosis, one recommendation would make all the difference: continue her care at Children's of Alabama.

"My family was willing to go anywhere for treatment to give me the best chance at survival," she recalls. "The doctors in Miami strongly recommended Children's of Alabama, and we are so grateful we listened."

That decision became the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Children's.

Upon initial diagnosis, Emily underwent six rounds of high-dose inpatient chemotherapy, 31 days of abdominal radiation, a stem cell transplant, two major abdominal surgeries and 12 months of maintenance therapy. At 13 years old, sherelapsed and endured another 18 months of treatment, including three major abdominal surgeries, five rounds of chemotherapy and an additional year of maintenance chemotherapy. Then, at age18, doctors discovered a third abdominal mass believed to have developed as a result of previous radiation treatment. She thenunderwent one final abdominal surgery and has remained in remission ever since.

For much of her childhood, hospital rooms replaced classrooms. "I don't remember life before cancer," she says. "Cancer became my normal before I ever had the chance to know what a normal childhood felt like."

Instead of worrying about homework, sports or sleepovers, she worried about scans, chemotherapy and whether her blood counts were high enough to leave the hospital. She missed birthday parties, holidays, school and countless milestones. She lost her hair twice and spent weeks isolated from friends and family.

But even during the hardest moments, she was never alone. "My family was my greatest source of strength and stood beside me every step of the way. We were also incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a community that rallied behind us with so much love, encouragement, and generosity."

Throughout her treatment, she was cared for by an extraordinary medical team, including Drs. Elizabeth Beierle, Joseph Pressey, Stuart Cramer, and Kim Whelan. Just as influential were the child life specialists who helped her cope with the emotional challenges of childhood cancer.

"They made me feel seen, safe and like a kid despite everything I was facing," she says. "They reminded me that I was more than my diagnosis."

Those experiences planted a dream that never faded. From an early age, she knew she wanted to become a child life specialist herself.
While earning her degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama, she worked toward that goal, graduating in May 2025. Today, she serves as a certified child life specialist in the Emergency Department at Children's of Alabama — the very hospital where she once received lifesaving care.

In her role, Emily helps patients and families navigate the hardships and uncertainties that often come with hospitalization. She supports children through developmentally appropriate education, procedural preparation and support, therapeutic play and opportunities for normalization and self-expression. 

“By meeting each patient where they are, my goal is to help them feel seen, supported and empowered while promoting positive coping throughout their healthcare journey,” Emily added.

For Emily, it took a lot of hard work, perseverance and support to get where she is today. “I can honestly say I'm living my dream by caring for children and families during some of their most difficult days. It is incredibly rewarding to now be the person I once needed for someone else."

Her own experiences continue to shape the way she cares for patients. Being a former patient gives her a unique understanding of the fear, uncertainty and vulnerability children and families experience during medical crises. Whether preparing a child for a procedure, creating opportunities for play or simply sitting beside a worried family, she knows firsthand how meaningful even the smallest acts of kindness can be.

"What makes this work so rewarding is knowing that I have the opportunity to make a difficult day a little easier," she says. "Getting to be a comforting face for another child is something I never take for granted."

For her, Children's of Alabama has always been much more than a hospital. "I've spent countless days, weeks and months within these walls, not only as an employee, but first as a patient," she says. "Some of the hardest moments of my life happened here, but so did many of the moments that shaped who I am today."

Now, she has the privilege of helping write those moments for other families. "As someone who has experienced Children's from both sides, I can confidently say it's so much more than a hospital. It's a place where children are cared for with compassion, families are supported every step of the way and every member of the team is committed to treating the whole child, not just the diagnosis."

Looking back, she doesn't define herself by cancer. Instead, she sees it as part of the journey that led her to a career filled with purpose. Every time she walks through the doors of Children's of Alabama, she does so with gratitude, not just as a survivor, but as someone who now helps children discover hope during some of their own hardest days.