Brush with fame
Long-time Vanessa Amarosi fan Emily Dale is still revelling in the memory of a backstage meeting with the singer before Amarosi’s Melbourne concert last Thursday.
The 31-year-old Drouin woman, who has a chronic and serious illness, contacted the singer’s manager before the concert asking if it would be possible to meet Amarosi.
The two chatted for about 10 minutes before Amarosi went on stage. Emily said she was astounded by the energy of her concert.
“Just the way she moved about the stage … she really gave it everything. She must have been exhausted after the show.”
She told the Gazette she had loved Amarosi’s songs since she was a young teenager suffering from a mysterious illness which was later diagnosed as Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, a serious disorder of the connective tissues.
Her doctors suspect she was born with the condition but it wasn’t diagnosed until she was 25.
She has had more than 30 operations including major spinal surgery; both her hips have been replaced, both knees reconstructed and ankles and wrists pinned. She can only walk short distances.
Emily said Amarosi’s lyrics had special meaning for her as she struggled with her health condition as a teenager.
“A lot of her songs resonate with me. I’ve gotten strength and courage from some of her songs to keep going.”
Emily has been told that she has perhaps 10 years before her heart and lungs give out.
And yes, she has a bucket list of things she wants to do before she is confined to a wheelchair full time.
Now that she knows she can do it she will certainly be looking to attend more concerts. Pink and Ed Sheeran are top of the list. She would love to meet them but is not sure how to go about it.
Another item was knocked off the list when her brother shouted her a ride in a limousine on her 30th birthday. And she is still hoping that one day she’ll take a hot air balloon ride.
Emily was grateful to her carer Deb Snelten, who accompanied her to Amarosi’s concert.
She said the National Disability Insurance Scheme was helping her to achieve her dreams, with the help of a carer from Acare.
But she said the scheme was still enmeshed in red tape.
“I’ve been knocked back for so many things. I applied for a $100 knee brace last year.
“It was in my plan. And it still took nine months to get it.”