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timewarrior2001
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.




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.

lynx2oo2
10-09-2003, 16:29
My condolences go out to you on this difficult time for you.

enjoy your memories.

lynx2oo2

http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0001head/page.cfm?objectid=13391635&method=full&siteid=50080

orangebird
10-09-2003, 16:37
Having lost no less than four members of family to cancer, all I can do is offer my heartfelt empathy and sympathy to you and your family. :( xx

Jules
10-09-2003, 16:40
That is so tragic such a pretty girl too. I am really sorry to hear of your loss Timewarrior

Nemesis
10-09-2003, 16:47
As before, my thoughts are with you and your family during this time.

May she live long in your memories, and they be tresured for a lifetime.

kink
10-09-2003, 20:26
Thank you for sharing your Emma with us Timewarrior..... she is a true inspiration and will live on in the memories of all those who have read her story, especially me.....
Thank you for helping to make my world a better place.

homealone
10-09-2003, 21:09
My thoughts are with you & your family.

I found the story both incredibly sad and incredibly inspiring - I hope you can celebrate her life as she wished.

Thankyou for sharing that & putting our petty problems into perspective. It is such a shame that Emma's courage couldn't have attained a better reward - but I hope her example will live on & inspire others to be more appreciative of their lives.

aliferste
10-09-2003, 21:40
There is really nothing that can be said at a time like this timewarrior2001, I just would hope that we could all be as brave as your cousin when faced with such circumstances.

When I hear of similar stories of people that died young I am always amazed by their strengh and am reminded of someone that said "A star that burns twice as bright will only burn for half as long"

timewarrior2001
10-09-2003, 22:06
you know, the last few lines make the most impact for me.

Living through this, and seeing Emma deal with it was traumatic for me, but Emma organised her own funeral, she picker her own coffin and asked to be buried close to our grandad. all that from a 21 year old.

On the 18 July, it was a pleasure for her to be at my engagment party, and now 7 weeks or so later she is gone from our lives.

I was in her flat today, helping sort through her things, and you know, I could feel her there. I am sure she's still around, looking out for her family, that was the kind of person she was.


Goodnight Emma, we will all miss you

Stuart
10-09-2003, 22:29
I'm really sorry to hear about your cousin. I know I said that in the other thread, but it is worth saying again.

I have lost two members of my family to cancer, and it is not easy. One thing I will say is something a friend told me when a relative died of cancer.

I can't remember the exact words, but basically, although you will never forget your cousin, the grief you are feeling now will reduce so you can live with it. Then, you will remember the good times.

Linzinchris2019
23-01-2021, 03:47
Missed always my beautiful cousin true inspiration xx

TheDaddy
29-01-2021, 04:54
Sad to think this threads almost as old as she was :(

I hope TimeWarrior is doing well, had many interactions here and in various other places with him that were mostly enjoyable

RIP Emma