ST. LOUIS — For months, people in the Metro East have been rallying around 7-year-old Jozie Kraemer as she battles a tumor. Now, she's saying thank you in her own special way.
It has been four months since Jozie was diagnosed with a tumor.
“We have not received a clear scan yet,” Terri Kraemer said.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital has become a home away from home for the girl.
“When we came in on Aug. 19, we had no idea what we were going to face,” Terri Kraemer said.
Jozie’s mom, Terri, said the staff at Children’s has gone out of their way to make her little girl comfortable as she undergoes chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.
“She’s a huge Taylor Swift fan,” Terri Kraemer said. “Her hospital room is completely decked out every time in Taylor Swift. There’s lots of singing with child life specialists to get us through some of the harder times with Taylor songs.”
Working with therapist Daphne Dierkes, Jozie has discovered art as an outlet.
“She really allows the art to just be an opportunity to build on her strengths and to share what she loves about the world and what makes the world beautiful around her,” St. Louis Children’s Hospital Art Therapist Daphne Dierkes said.
Dierkes and Kraemer work together on an almost daily basis.
“I get to do fun stuff with them,” Jozie said.
Jozie has developed a bond with staff members like Daphne that has blossomed into a beautiful friendship.
“She likes most of the things that I like, like pink, and glitter,” Jozie said.
That’s why this holiday season, Jozie is giving back to those who have helped her along the way with a special gift.
“If anybody is a Swiftie they know that friendship bracelets are a must,” Dierkes said. “I feel pretty honored that I got a Jozie original, let alone three of them! As I was pulling them out, there was 'joy,' 'love,' and 'strong.'”
Three words that are often used to describe the sweet 7-year-old.
“She has a light that truly emulates from her,” Dierkes said.
As she continues her treatment, Jozie is on a mission to ring the bell at Children’s Hospital.
“I will never, ever, be able to say thank you enough to the staff and the community,” Terri Kraemer said. “I will never know how to repay them.”
“I’m going to beat this,” Jozie Kraemer said.
Jozie is undergoing regular treatment at Children's Hospital but is being allowed to go home for the holidays.
She will undergo a scan to update her progress in March.