Emma's Legacy

9 Valentine's Days since Emma died. 9 Valentine's Days of speculating who Emma would of been dating, or even engaged or married. 9 Valentine's Days of speculating how me and Emma would of celebrating.  Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye "Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush. I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die." I wonder if Emma would of been blessed to have children by now, I wonder how gorgeous her children would be.

Alder Hey has an extremely special place in my heart, not only one of the hospitals which treated me for my health, it was the hospital where Emma got her cancer treatments. Alder Hey is our local children's hospital, 15 miles up the road from my house, 13.5 miles from Emma's at the time of her passing.  If any of the staff from the Oncology ward in July to November 2014, are reading this, thank you so much for helping my sweet angel out before she eventually passed away. The oncology ward works miracles and extending my cousin's lifespan for a few months, it was the best few months I could of ever prayed for. I am so thankful for all the work which the Oncology team does for everyone who has had cancer before, thank you. Isaiah 57:1 "Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand, that God is protecting them from the evil to come." Emma was an amazingly smart young girl, I wouldn...

Every Friday, here on Emma's Legacy, I will be showing a poem about grief. This week I decided on "In Lieu of Flowers" by Shawna Lemay.  Although I love flowers very much, I won’t see them when I’m gone. So in lieu of flowers. Buy a book of poetry written by someone still alive, sit outside with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, and read it out loud, by yourself or to someone, or silently. Spend some time with a single flower. A rose maybe. Smell it, touch the petals. Really look at it.Drink a nice bottle of wine with someone you love. Or, Champagne. And think of what John Maynard Keynes said, “My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.” Or what Dom Perignon said when he first tasted the stuff: “Come quickly! I am tasting stars!” Take out a paint set and lay down some colours. Watch birds. Common sparrows are fine. Pigeons, too. Geese are nice. Robins. In lieu of flowers, walk in the trees and watch the light fall into it. Eat an apple, a really nice big ...

I posted these stories to facebook one night, during Ovarian Cancer Awareness month last year. I cherish everything in these stories and my 10 years, 3 months and 3 days I had with Emma. I especially cherish the last few months of those 10 years, 3 months and 3 days Story 1: The One about the Funeral Flower Letter Story (the funny one) Her dad made a joke whilst planning her funeral about that he was thankful she was called Emma and not Penelope as the funeral flower letters in 2014 were £40 (now £52.90) per letter. This made both my uncle and the florist working on the day laugh as it was an unexpected surprised joke. My dad or my mum told me that and it’s my last proper memory of her. Story 2: The One about the Last Living Memory Story (the sad one) The last living memory I have with her, we were hanging around the streets near where I live with one of our mutual friends and her brother and we were just having a blast, I don’t speak about that memory much as it’s just so difficult. ...

Last year, during March I part took in 'Walk in Her Name' by Ovarian Cancer Action. I walked 80 kilometers (50.5 miles) in the month of March. This year, I'm challenging myself to the full 100 kilometers (62.1 miles). My favourite day from last year's 'Walk in Her Name' was March 14th, 2023, were I walked 9,526 steps, 79 flights of stairs and 6.2 kilometers (3.85 miles). I walked past places which have so much history to me. I walked past my sister's high school, my high school, near my primary school, and so many more places in my hometown. So many places which me and Emma had history, our town centre which we both explored the market on a Tuesday, I remember a lot of that walk and my childhood that day, it was only days after one of my other cousins died, I spent that entire walk reflecting and reminiscing about all the time I had with Emma and my other cousin.  Today, February, 3rd, 2024, I signed up for this year's 'Walk in Her Name', and I a...

Every Friday, here on Emma's Legacy, I will be showing a poem about grief. This week I decided on "The Dash" by Linda Ellis. I read of a man who stood to speak, at the funeral of a friend, he referred to the dates on the tombstone, from the beginning...to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all, was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time, that they spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved them, know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash. So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough, to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand. The way other people feel. And b...

Emma was born on August, 4th, 2002 to a loving family. Emma was the oldest of 3 siblings, with her younger brother being born on her 6th birthday. During the summer of 2014, Emma was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of Ovarian Cancer which is normally only ever found in middle-aged women. She had chemotherapy and all over types of treatments to extend her life. Unfortunately, Emma passed away around 3:45 am, on November, 18th 2014, she was only 12 years old. I made a promise to myself that I would share Emma's story, as her story was impactful for many of her family, including myself.  I trust this finds you well and in good health. I am writing to you today not as an individual, but as a voice for the countless lives touched by the formidable adversary we know as cancer. This letter is not just a collection of words; it is a plea, a call to action, and a testament to the strength of human solidarity. Cancer, in its various forms, has woven itself into the fabric of our societ...