Waving to a billion people takes a lot of out of a 6 year old

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COLUMBIA SC (WOLO)–“It was like a dream,” says 6 year old Edie Gilger, of her journey with her mom and dad, to Pasadena, California to to ride a float in Monday’s Rose Parade.  The opportunity, organized by Northwest Insurance, marked a celebration of life for the Gilgers.

Edie, at five months old, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that creates tumors that attack the central nervous system.  After beating the cancer, her mother, Emily developed the same cancer.  Although neuroblastoma is seldom diagnosed in someone over 10 years old, the Gilgers, for the second time, circled and prepared for a fight for their lives.

“It came down to research,” says Nick Gilger, who stood strong while the two ladies in his life fought back against what many would consider a death sentence.

The research that the Gilgers credit with surviving cancer was funded by grants from Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Northwest Mutual.  “It was a magic bullet,” says Nick.

The Gilger family joined Good Morning Columbia’s Tyler Ryan to hear first hand what it was like to be in the cat bird seat in a parade that the whole world watched.

You can learn more about the Gilger family and neuroblastoma HERE.

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