WASHINGTON - Redskins (web | news) Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center Tuesday, hoping to bring a little cheer to the nation's wounded warriors.

He hoped to "bring a little light and a little bit of solace for these families." But it was a little girl, Emma, that caught his eye -- and ours.

"She is a 2-year-old kidney cancer [patient]. They discovered it about eight weeks ago," said Amy Miller, Emma's mother.

Emma's father, Alex, is a specialist in the Army, stationed in Germany. Specialist Miller had just rejoined his family in Germany after a tour in Iraq (web | news) when Emma was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

"To return from a 15-month deployment to find your worst nightmare -- a 2-year-old having cancer -- it's been very strenuous on him but we're holding up," Amy said.

Specialist Miller and his family were granted emergency leave from Germany, so Emma could get treatment at Walter Reed. She has undergone chemotherapy and has a 97-percent chance of full recovery.

"She's doing much better," Amy said. "We go Thursday and remove that icky cancer. 

"To meet Emma, it brings back my situation with my son Andrew," Rypien said.

Rypien lost his 3-year-old son Andrew to cancer, and has a foundation dedicated to helping families deal with the disease. 

"She's a cute little gal that's running around here not having any idea that not every 2-year-old is going through what she's going through," Rypien said of Emma. "We hope and pray that she gets through it and has a strong, healthy life."

His mission Tuesday was to bring goodwill -- and pizza -- to veterans and their families the day before Veterans Day.

"He came down and gave my children autographs so I was very excited with that," Miller said.

Specialist Miller had an appointment and missed out on Rypien's visit.

The Millers are hoping for a reassignment to Fort Lewis in Washington state, which is near their California home.

 Email To Friend