Brave Emma loses her fight against cancer
AN INSPIRATIONAL teenager whose battle with cancer touched the lives of thousands of people has died just days after watching one of her biggest wishes came true.
Emma Cosgrove from Cheadle ‘gained her angel wings’ on Saturday following a seven-year fight with the disease.
The 19-year-old was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a form of bone cancer – when she was just 12 and underwent years of treatment.
But early last year, Emma learned the illness had returned for a seventh time and was told by doctors there was nothing more they could do.
Emma took the news in her stride and began writing a bucket list of all the things she wanted to do and kindhearted family, friends and strangers raised more than £20,000 to help make her dreams come true.
She swam with dolphins, watched The Lion King in the West End, gained a qualification in acrylic nails, met Ed Sheeran, and even Snapchatted Phillip Schofield, but there was one more thing she wanted to see – her parents get engaged.
Last Tuesday, the day before Emma was admitted to The Christie, she and mum Cheryl took dad Mike on tour of the Etihad Stadium for his birthday.
It was there that Cheryl got down on one knee and asked 39-year-old Mike to marry her – much to her daughter’s delight.
“It was something that she really wanted,” Mike said.
“We all got rings, they were like a knot that tied the three of us together. “Emma had been so excited
about it, more so than her own birthday a few days earlier. She and Cheryl had been planning it all for weeks and she couldn’t wait for my ‘big surprise.’ ”
Her family paid tribute to her, adding: “Emma was a beautiful, brave and inspirational young woman who always put everyone else before herself.
“She fought hard for seven years against this disease and there was not one day she gave up trying.
“Our last week with her was so special, it was full of smiles.”
They added: “Emma did everything she wanted to do, she achieved her dreams and plans, with a few extras along the way and that is thanks to a lot of lovely people.”
Her sister, Danielle, 25, posted the news of Emma’s passing on a Facebook page ‘Osteosarcemma’ set up by the teenager to share her cancer journey with the world.
She wrote: “Last night at around 7.20pm Emma finally ended her fight after a long seven years. She gained her angel wings and is finally at peace and free of all her pain.”