"From School Runs to Farewells: A Mother's Heartbreaking Journey"

Julie Apisella's heartfelt post about her daughter Emily, who recently passed away from cancer, amassed 8.5 thousand shares and tens of thousands of views. Released at the start of the year alongside her daughter's photo, the post is a poignant call to action for parents about childhood cancer.

The photo, divided into two sections, shows little Emily on one side wearing her school uniform. Tragically, the other side features the same background as the initial picture, but missing Emily. "Back-to-school photo time—and someone very dear is missing: my daughter Emily," Apisella wrote in her poignant post. "Imagine if the school photo you share this year is the last, leaving you only with memories."

Among the flood of supportive and empathetic reactions, Apisella also faced some backlash, with critics accusing her of fearmongering by saying, "Almost all my friends have children or family with children, and this could become your reality."

Apisella was quick to clarify her real intentions: "One in every 285 children is diagnosed with cancer. I want to raise awareness about the symptoms of this disease's onset, so you realize it's not rare. That's the first hurdle we need to overcome."

At the end of her post, Apisella urged readers to add a gold ribbon—a global symbol for childhood cancer awareness—to their profile pictures to amplify consciousness about this dangerous illness, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide.

5 Facts About Childhood Cancer You Might Not Know:

1. Early detection of cancer in children is nearly impossible. It's very difficult to identify cancerous tumors in blood tests, except for leukemia, which can mostly be detected with a simple blood count.
2. Parents should be aware of unusual combinations of symptoms in their child, such as fever with limping or pallor accompanied by severe stomach pain. Stay vigilant and consult a physician for any symptom that persists longer than usual.
3. Cancerous tumors in children are generally treated with one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation, or surgeries.
4. Targeted therapy is a treatment that attacks cancer cells specifically with molecules, sparing healthy cells. Depending on a child's health condition and medical history, doctors may opt for this treatment, although it's still relatively rare.
5. What are the recovery rates for children with cancer? Malignant tumors in the brainstem, muscle, or bone—and cases where tumors have returned—generally have low recovery rates according to many doctors. However, thanks to advancements in technology, these rates have improved in recent years.