HARTLAND, Wis. (WITI) – An 8-year-old Wisconsin girl battling a rare brain tumor died on Sunday, according to a post on the "Emma Loves Dogs" Facebook page.
Local TV news station WITI covered Emma Mertens' story in February after her family requested letters and photos of dogs to raise the young girl's spirits after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She received more than 75,000 letters from 50 countries.
In March, she received an extra special surprise from over 35 K-9 teams from around the state of Wisconsin.
In late August, in honor of her 8th birthday, her parents announced the launch of the Emma Loves Dogs Foundation, with a mission of providing "financial assistance to organizations that share Emma’s passion for helping animals, such as police K-9 units and no-kill animal shelters."
A neighbor posted this statement on Emma's passing:
The Mertens offered this information about her deadly disease:
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Emma Loves Dogs Foundation.