Emma’s Story
With heartbreak and loss, we so often also find beauty and cherished memories. When Emma sadly died after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, she left behind a memory that her family will cherish forever – her wedding day.
As two of our nurses, Hayley [Community Services Manager] and Julie [Community Nurse Specialist], arrived at work on the 17th September 2022, they had no idea of the events that were about to unfold. After receiving a desperate phone call from Emma’s sister, Lulu, they hurried to Emma’s house to help her. Emma was a patient under the Hospice’s Community Nursing Team. She had terminal bowel cancer and was in severe pain and incredibly distressed. The emotional strain was only exasperated by the fact that this very poignant date was meant to be Emma’s wedding day.
Emma had met her partner, Sam, many years ago. He was her soulmate and childhood sweetheart. They were blessed with four children and had been planning their wedding for a long time after multiple proposals by Sam led to an inevitable ‘yes’! Emma had chosen the perfect dress, arranged for her hair and make up to be done, and had hired a wedding car and photographer to capture the perfect day that they wished to celebrate with their family and friends. Heartbreakingly, when Emma woke on the morning of her wedding day, the deterioration in her health meant that they felt that they had no choice but to cancel.
After assessing the situation and giving Emma some pain relief, Julie took Emma’s hand and asked her, “Do you still want to get married?” To which, Emma whispered, “Yes, I do.
All Julie had to do was look at Hayley to know they were both on the same page and in this together.
“Non-verbal communication is comforting in difficult, sensitive situations. Hayley and I have worked together for some time, and we understand how each other thinks.” comments Julie.
The Hospice’s two nurses knew that they couldn’t change the outcome of Emma’s cancer, but they did have the opportunity to change the outcome of that particular day.
Hayley and Julie just knew they had to do everything in their power to help Emma experience the wedding day that she deserved. Despite everything else being cancelled that morning, the booking at Weybridge Registry Office was still in place.
After informing the family that the wedding could go ahead, Hayley and Julie helped Emma into her wedding dress and did her hair and make-up. Emma looked undeniably beautiful as she stood in her glamourous white dress, detailed to perfection. Her daughters, dressed as bridesmaids, looked on with pride as their two younger brothers appeared in their suits, their little faces filled with excitement.
As Emma travelled to her wedding venue, there was a quiet sense of calm and relief as she softly sang along to one of her favourite songs, “Baby Boy” by Big Bruvaz. Joined by her family, Emma was helped down the aisle where she was able to say her long awaited vows. Holding onto a stunning bouquet of yellow and pink roses, her dress flowing out beside her, Emma’s smile said a thousand words.
Hayley was asked to take on the role of wedding photographer and captured many precious moments as Emma got her wish to marry her childhood sweetheart, the father of her children and now her husband.
A few weeks later, Julie and Hayley attended Emma’s funeral. A respectful silence fell as two elegant white horses led her funeral cortege. Inside the white hearse, placed on top of her coffin was a beautiful floral tribute – WIFE.
Our nurses feel truly privileged to help all our patients and their families in times of such sadness. This moment of being able to find beauty in amongst the sorrow will never be forgotten.
