Johnstown, Pa., Local 459 lineman Tom Whitehead appeared before the convention on its final day, giving an incredible update to the inspiring story of his daughter, Emily, who was diagnosed with leukemia as a 5-year-old in 2010.

Emily was near death when her parents took her to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors began an experimental treatment that never had been used on children.

Ten years later, she is a healthy high school junior with a 4.0 grade point average and has become something of an international star. Her story has been told in major media outlets and the family released a book, with the forward written by filmmaker Ken Burns.

The week of the 40th International Convention marked 10 years to the day that Emily had been cancer-free, and researchers behind the unique treatment marked the occasion by declaring her the first person in the world to be officially cured of childhood leukemia.

Shortly after her initial battle with cancer, the Whiteheads began a foundation in Emily's name and the family will be the subject of an upcoming documentary film that premiered at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in June.

All the while, Tom has continued to work a full-time schedule for his employer, Penelec, and remained an active IBEW member.

"When we got her home and got her better, I said to her and my wife Kari that I'm going to work the rest of my life paying it forward while continuing to work as a lineman and help other families have the same outcomes that we did," he said, appearing by video.

Whitehead, who has spoken at the last three International Conventions, again thanked members for donating vacation hours during the early days of Emily's ordeal. That, along with donations from Kari's colleagues at Penn State University, allowed them to be by their daughter's side without missing a paycheck.

"I wanted to put a positive message out there to never give up when times are the hardest and stick together," he said. "I always felt like being a part of the IBEW and having the support back then to keep me at the hospital while still being paid allowed me to make those decisions that saved her life. I'm very thankful I'm still working in the IBEW and proud to be a lineman."

Whitehead also pointed to a new use for the revolutionary treatment that saved Emily's life: melanoma, a form of skin cancer familiar to many members of the trades who work outside for a living.

"Anybody in the IBEW that might need help with cancer care for themselves or a loved one can reach out to me at any time," he said. "I've been fortunate enough to meet some of the best oncologists in the world. We have connections to find these experimental trials that are hard to find when standard treatment isn't working for you."