She was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis in 2004. The illness meant long hours of pain and stiffness along with a regime of medications.
Although she went into remission for 11 months, a new diagnosis of Lupus with arthritic components and Stage 3 kidney disease means a battery of chemotherapy treatments and more medications. Each bi-weekly treatment lasts for approximately six hours.
Within the last few weeks, she had a port placed in her muscles where medications can be administered.
Jillian said, “I have bad veins and when they put needles in my hands, they would swell up.”
Her attending physician at Riley is very empathic since she herself is suffering with breast cancer. Jillian said, “She knows what it’s like to be nauseous and she gives me what medication she can to help control it for me.”
The medications make her extremely tired so she either has to sleep in late or go to bed very early.
Additionally, the medications caused her hair to fall out in clumps and become thin, so Jillian voluntarily cut her once long hair in a short style. She said, “I really miss my long hair. It’s more like me.”
Her first class starting on August 25 at Ancilla will be at 10:30 a.m.; so Jillian thinks she can be able to attend regularly. Her medical treatments have been scheduled so that she will not miss any classes.
During the last tri-mester of her junior year at Plymouth High School. Jillian was forced to withdraw. She said, “I was just too sick and I missed a lot of days.”
But thanks to the encouragement from PHS Guidance Counselor Amy Portius, Alternative School Director Susie Clevenger and Adult Education staff member Deb Sherwood, Jillian was able to complete the 60 hours of class work and the test for a GED (General Equivalency Diploma). She received her GED when she was only 17.
She celebrated her 18 birthday in July with an open house recognizing her academic success.
Her lifetime career choices will depend upon how well she responds to her current treatments. She said, “I really want to be a nurse.” “I’ve been around it (nursing) for so long.” She said, “Being a patient for so long, I know that things that patients don’t want and what they do want.  I know how they want to be treated.”
 Jillian’s white blood cell count is almost nonexistent at this point. According to Jillian, her mother Joan is apprehensive about her being around hospitals and illnesses. Jillian said, “My mother is always there for my treatments.” She added, “She knows how bad I want this.”
When Jillian was unable to receive one of her chemotherapy treatments due to her low white cell blood count, her mother suggested a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. Jillian said, “I love the dolphins with a passion; I had always wanted to be a dolphin trainer.” Jillian said, “I was able to stay at the zoo almost all day, but I was really tired coming home.” She said she still dreams of swimming with dolphins.
Jillian knows her mother and father, Dennis Emmons, are looking out for her best interest when they tell her to get more rest, but she wants to live as normal a life as possible. Normal life for her includes being with her friends. She said, “My friends are really cautious about helping me, but they know I want to do everything I can.”
Jillian said her best friend for the last two years, Madison Read, leaves in three weeks for college and she will miss her. She said she wanted to go to go away to school too, but realizes that finding medical treatment would be a problem.
For the third year in a row, Jillian has worked with youth at EarthWorks in Donaldson. She said, “I love kids. If the nursing is too tiring, I intend to go into Early Childhood Development and maybe someday run a big day care.”
For now, she continues to hope for a future free of Lupus and other diseases so she can help others.
Among her highest hope is to someday be a nurse at Riley’s.