James’ Story
James shares his story about the death of his sister Emma, who died from cervical cancer in 1997, and what it has meant to carry her with him for 29 years.
Emma was 6 years older than me, almost to the Day. (I was allowed to open one present on her Birthday as mine was 3 days later).
Emma was very academic and studied Languages at Robinson College in Cambridge. At the end of her second year, she went to work at Camp America in New York state for the Summer of 1996.
This is where she became seriously ill and after being transferred by an emergency lunar jet to from New York to Cambridge Airport she was diagnosed at Addenbrokes Hospital Cambridge with a rare form of cervical cancer.
Her diagnosis never stopped her from living her life and had an inspiring joy for continuing to study, paint, meet with friends and travel as much as she could.
“During the last year of her life we became very close, we spent more time together than we had ever done in our life and we became good friends.”
On 16th May 1997 Emma passed away aged 21.
I will always respect her work ethic, standing up for what she believed in and for being such a supportive sister.
I take great comfort in recently discovering Sibling Support, and I will be taking part in the Sibling Support Memory Run event in April in memory of my sister, Emma.
After 29 years my loss is always there everyday, but I take great comfort in Emma being my sister, I continue to speak about her with my Children and the stories of our amazing childhood and being together as a family.
