1. Page 28 Daily Record Thursday, October 27, 2011 Daily Record Thursday, October 27, 2011 Page 29
FAMILY SET UP CHARITY IN MEMORY OF BRAVE 11-YEAR-OLD WHO CAPTURED HEARTS EVERYWHERE
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Emma lost a leg to
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the last year of her life..
she made us so proud
BRAVE Emma Cameron had Exclusive primary six at Torrance Primary when leg, from just above the knee. She threw year, I had to let her enjoy her time left difficult and these little things bring
ngs
Schoolgirl every reason to cry. She was
just 10 years old when her leg
By Karen Bale
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
she started complaining of a pain in her
leg. Then, during a family holiday in the
north of England, in October 2009, the
pain became so bad that Alan took her
herself into physio almost immediately.
Alan said: “Emma had always been on
the go, she loved running, sports and
girls brigade, and she didn’t see why
as much as possible,” he said.
“We all clung to our hope and to our
strong Christian faith. Her attitude
completely inspired me.
them such happiness.”
hool
Emma struggled on at school but Alan
had to tell her she wouldn’t recover.
hether
He said: “I pained over whether to tell
kept going was amputated after doctors
found a cancerous tumour
growing in her knee.
And she was just 11 when she was
incredible charities who work to
make their final days happy ones.
Alan, of Torrance, Dunbartonshire,
said: “I’m so proud of Emma. She is
to A&E. Despite being told it was
growing pains, Alan wasn’t convinced.
A visit to Emma’s GP in Torrance
confirmed his worst fears.
being an amputee should stop her.”
After a couple weeks in a wheelchair,
Emma was given a prosthetic leg.
She began training on a running
“We did some fantastic stuff with
Emma and these memories are such
important parts of our life now.”
The family lived life to the full, like
her. We talked about death, about
heaven and about our faith. She was
pretty ill by then and I think I was just
confirming what she knew.”
k
to school given months to live. But she never
stopped smiling.
Emma met more celebrities and
an inspiration.
“Emma loved life and enjoyed her
final 12 months, despite what she
Insurance worker Alan said: “By the
start of November, she had been
diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her
right leg – a cancerous tumour.
machine and soon learned to play on
her Wii Fit.
In May, just weeks after she was given
her new leg, Emma was invited to be a
every day was going to be Emma’s last.
They flew to Lanzarote for a
sun-soaked beach holiday and went to
Northumberland for a fun-filled trip.
Emma passed away, at home,
with her family by her side,
on April 1.
The Emma Cameron
me,
until days enjoyed more holidays and fun days was going through and how ill she
away in her final few months than was. It helps me and her sister, “They started chemotherapy straight mascot for Ross County’s cup clash with They flew to Lapland for Christmas, Foundation will raise money y
Rachel, cope now. away. Emma was obviously scared but Dundee United and the brave schoolgirl travelled to the Moray Firth for Emma for children with cancer.
most people get in a lifetime.
“If Emma could keep going and she was a determined wee girl. walked on to the pitch unaided. to see dolphins, and met her football There are some services
And remarkable Emma kept going that Emma couldn’t get
“She was smart and knew she would However, just a month later Emma heroes at Ross County.
before to school until just 10 days before never once complain when she was
sick, then we have to be inspired by lose her hair and that it would make returned to hospital with an infection. She flew to South Carolina to visit access to, that Alan wants
she died. In fact, she enjoyed an her ill. But she never once complained.” An X-ray of her lungs confirmed the close friends and through children’s provided for young patients. .
adventure holiday with her school her and do the same now.
“Emma never moaned about her Tragically, after three months of worst. The cancer had spread. cancer charities met Ricky Whittle on The foundation will raise
pals a fortnight before her death. chemo, doctors broke the sad news that Emma had surgery to remove the the Strictly Come Dancing tour, money for smaller charities, ,
disease
chemo, or losing her leg. In fact, she
Emma’s bravery in the face of even started fundraising for charities the treatment wasn’t working. tumours but Alan was warned it was boyband JLS and Princess Anne. to help make dreams come
adversity stunned everyone around while she was very ill. Emma’s body was not responding to likely the disease would still spread. Alan said: “I can’t stress enough the true for youngsters with
her. And it has inspired her proud “This is her legacy. If she was alive, the chemo and the tumour had not “There was a tiny chance she might level of benefits kids with terminal cancer and other terminal
dad, Alan, 46, to set up The Emma shrunk. The only way to try to save survive. But if not, if she had two cancer get from the support from these illnesses.
killed her
I know she would be working on it.”
Cameron Foundation. Emma had not long started Emma’s life was to amputate her right months, six months, nine months or a smaller charities. Their life is incredibly Donate online at Z BATTLER
He feels he owes it to his brave emmacameronfoundation. n. Emma’s family
little girl to help other children org.uk have set up a
battling cancer and support the ‘We talked about death, heaven and our faith. She was pretty ill by then’ foundation