Time was so precious and she filled it with cuddles
WHen emma realised she was going to die, her whole life became about her boys, Joshua, seven, and Ben, five. Propped up on pillows, she’d paint with them, read to them and cuddle them for hours. She bought all the classic children’s books she’d loved as a child — such as The Secret Garden and Gulliver’s Travels — wrote special messages in them and put them away for future birthdays when she’d be gone.
But most of all, she put on a happy face — smiling, warm, kind and fun — never showing how desperate she must really have been feeling inside.
even as a little girl, emma was exceptional — sensitive, artistic, clever and musical. Aged five, she’d watch her big brother Simon have piano lessons and then sit down and play his Grade 2 pieces herself.
A year later, she performed in a school concert without ever having had a lesson.
She loved camping, animals, nature and reading. She was good at everything she did. By the time she was ten she was top of her class and danced through the 11-plus.
Secondary school was harder. She loved the work, but found the social side trickier with girls who weren’t always friendly. It took two moves before she settled, but when she did, she flew.
After A-levels came university in london, where she studied drama and musical theatre. emma could be shy, but she loved performing and had a beautiful voice, and for a while she joined a travelling theatre group and an Abba tribute band.
But the money was terrible and would never pay the rent, so she applied for teacher training and settled in a lovely junior school in Herne Bay, Kent.
Teaching came naturally. She produced the annual school show and loved being able to make a difference for the children — to protect them, nurture them and make sure that no one was bullied as she had been.
But she yearned for children of her own. eventually, after kissing a few frogs, she met darren, an IT specialist for a bank, through an internet dating site.
At the age of 35, she didn’t dare wait any longer and, in december 2010, after a difficult pregnancy and a traumatic birth, her first son, Joshua, was born.
emma and darren were married the following year with six-month-old Joshua the guest of honour in a teeny morning suit. Ben arrived a year later.
finally, emma’s life was complete, and she loved her young family so much.
The cancer came in early 2015. She battled fiercely and bravely — a double mastectomy, endless procedures. But it spread and spread — to her ovaries, spine, lymph glands and brain.
She didn’t want to die — it had taken her so long to meet the man of her dreams and have her beloved babies. They’d had so little time together. The worst part was seeing her anguish at having to leave them — not being able to stay, wipe their tears, protect them and see their lovely faces when they opened their birthday presents.
But she didn’t complain, she didn’t despair. Instead, she crammed as much as she could into the time she had left. Between operations, she raised money for charity and ran the race for life in the pouring rain.
even when she was bedridden, she read reams of books, took up new languages and created an entire portfolio of art.
But most of all, she cuddled her boys and showed them how to squeeze life dry.