Pop concerts got our Emma through some of hardest times.. I’ll keep gigging in her memory
Daughter’s brave cerebral palsy battle
A GRIEVING mother is to pay tribute to her miracle daughter by going to pop concerts in her memory.
Jane Burke, 52, has told of her family’s heartache at losing Emma Hughes after a long battle with cerebral palsy.
The Record reported 26 years ago on Emma and her twin sister Amy’s fight for survival after they were born nearly four months early, weighing just 1lb 14oz and 1lb 7oz respectively.
While Emma suffered from poor physical health, including chronic lung disease, Amy has learning difficulties.
Despite her serious health problems, which left her in a wheelchair, Emma refused to allow her condition to prevent her from seeing her favourite stars on stage and was a regular at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
She died on September 14 last year, six days after celebrating her 25th birthday with Amy at their home in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow.
Jane said yesterday: “The last few years she would have a viral infection every few weeks. At times she was really very poorly and just kept fighting back, but this time she became too tired.” Pop music was what got Emma through some of her toughest times. She would learn the lyrics in advance of gigs so she could sing along with her mum and cousin. Jane said: “Her first concert was Hear’Say years ago.
“She went to so many – Take That, Olly Murs, Kylie Minogue.
“It was her time when she could just go and enjoy herself and forget about everything.” Jane is now preparing to go to see two of Emma’s favourite pop acts in concert with her niece – and said she will continue to visit the Hydro to feel close to her daughter.
She added: “We had tickets months in advance, so I will go to Olly Murs in May and Westlife in June and think of Emma.
“We want to celebrate the memories of her.”