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Streets Lined With Supporters, Police Escort Welcoming 7-Year-Old Home

Posted at 8:05 PM, Feb 16, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-16 21:17:13-05

Welcome Home Lily Strang STURGIS, Mich. (February 16,2014)- Dozens of people helped plan a homecoming surprise for a 7-year-old girl who’s won the hearts of West Michigan.

Lily Strang was born with a rare genetic disorder that causes her to have no thumbs and to be smaller than other kids her age.

FOX 17 has followed her journey as she taught us to embrace our differences and showed us how to put up a fight when she was diagnosed with leukemia.

So, it was only fitting she came home in style.  Lily was escorted by Sturgis Police and Fire as supporters young and old lined the streets with banners and signs.

“I really missed her in the hospital,” one of Lily’s classmates said.

“I’m out here to tell Lily that we all love her,” said another.

Lily and her mom, Erin Furr, have been at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for five months where Lily underwent a bone marrow transplant and intensive chemotherapy.

It was all documented on the 1000 Cranes for Lily Facebook page.  Erin gave almost daily updates sharing the milestones and the not so good days.

For Lily, this Homecoming is just another step in the already incredible story of her life.  And though she might not realize what it means to have thousands of Facebook followers from across the country, she knows she’s not alone.

“Thank you,” Lily said when asked what she wanted to say to all the people who have supported her the past year.

Now that Lily is home she’ll travel to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital every week while her immune system continues building.