Cable Forum - View Single Post

10-09-2003, 16:10

I dont know if this is the correct place, but some of you will know recently I suffered the loss of my cousin, Emma.

The local paper has done a small story on her fight against cancer and was published in this evenings paper.

http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/

"the amazing life of Emma"
For the online version.

I would liek to thank the people here that have sent their condolences to me and my family.

Quote:

Amazing life of Emma Sep 10 2003

Helen Sturdy, Evening Gazette

A grieving mum today paid an emotional tribute to her inspirational daughter who died after battling cancer for ten years.

Emma Claire Brown passed away surrounded by loving family members after a decade of fighting tumours.

Today the 21-year-old's tearful mum Janet, from Billingham, spoke of a smiling, popular, "full-of-life" daughter.

She said Emma would be sorely missed by family and friends.

"She had mountains and mountains of friends and she lived her life to the full," said the 46-year-old, of Pendle Crescent.

"She never moaned - everyone keeps telling me she was an inspiration.

"She showed people that you can enjoy the time you have."

Emma had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma - a bone cancer and the sixth most common type of cancer in children - when she was just 11. The former Northfield School student underwent the trauma of having her left thigh bone removed and she was fitted with a prosthesis before undergoing intensive chemotherapy and going into remission.

But five years later, the family was twice given the shattering news that the cancer had returned to Emma's lungs, leading her to have half her lung removed.

Their ordeal was far from over, however, and two years later, they were again hit with the bombshell it had returned - this time to Emma's pelvis.

After months of treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Emma's family thought she had finally won through.

But just before Christmas last year, they were dealt another blow when they discovered it had moved to her abdomen. Emma, a trained beautician, had to have her spleen, part of her pancreas and most of her stomach removed.

"In April they finally said there was nothing they could do," said Janet.

"Since Christmas, she had been quite poorly and was bed-ridden for nearly four weeks.

"She had to go through all that and she never once complained."

Emma lived in her own flat at Kennedy Gardens in Billingham and trained as a beautician at Stockton and Billingham College in Stockton - but was never well enough to work.

Her family, including sisters Hayley, 23, Kelly, 19, brother Craig, 17, and Hayley's children Joseph, two, and one-year-old Megan, have only happy memories of Emma.

"I think Joseph and Megan will miss their aunt. She doted on them," added Janet.

"Now we just have to carry on. We are coping because you just have to get on with things.

"Everybody has been brilliant, especially my friend Liz Liddle and the Macmillan nurses at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

"The care Emma had was second to none.

"The saddest thing is that she will never get married and have a family.

"It is a really big help having Joseph and Megan here."

Emma's funeral takes place at 10.15am tomorrow at St Cuthbert's Church, Billingham.

"She doesn't want people to wear black," added Janet. "When she found out she was terminally ill, she arranged her own funeral.

"She wanted a celebration of life."

if anyone can show me how to link directly to the story I would be gratefull.