Family pays tribute to their fighter Emily

EMILY BRADSHAW

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A FAMILY has paid tribute to their "joyful and infectious" 14-year-old daughter.

The heartbroken mother of Emily Susan Bradshaw shared how they were "lucky to have 14 years" with their daughter who was only given four months.

Emily bore more than most her age, spending the first two and a half years of her life in hospital, and her subsequent years battling several illnesses and conditions.

Cheeky

Mum Angela Bradshaw said: "Emily needed 24/7 care.

"She was not able to move much and she was on high medication. She could not talk but you could see every emotion on her face.

"She was cheeky ­- she would flirt with all the male nurses and doctors.

"She did it all with a smile and it was infectious. We are all heartbroken."

Emily succumbed to multiple organ failure on August 22 after battling a lung condition, heart condition, chromosome disorder, cerebral palsy, spinal scoliosis, development delay and problems with her bowels, among other illnesses.

Angela, of Butterworth Lane, Chadderton, said: "I had a normal pregnancy, but Emily grew steadily worse.

"She was only 11-months-old when she ended up at Saint Mary's Hospital, in Manchester. From there, she just went from hospital to hospital.

"At the age of five, she ended up with a tracheostomy and she was on ventilation until she was seven.

Major

"For the last two years, she had fluid build-up around her heart so she had to have a major operation.

"To be honest, we thought we were going to lose her then."

Emily returned home to her family and was with them until Friday, August 19, when the high dependency unit decided to keep Emily in overnight after her mum had taken her for a check-up.

Angela said: "On the Saturday, she was so happy and giggling and just like she normally was.

"But on the Sunday, her birthday, she just wasn't herself.

"We called back in on the Monday morning and just after we walked in, they had finished the CPR. She just got tired."

Angela and Kevin Bradshaw, who have three other children, gave up their jobs at Tesco to become full-time carers.

Angela said: "We want to thank everybody who has been there for us to help with her care.

"Oldham Ventilation and the Complex Needs Team, at the Integrated Care Centre and her schools Kingfisher and Newbridge have been amazing.

Special

"We also want to thank Wild and Brierley ­- she is going to have a special Frozen-themed coffin because she loved the Disney film."

Family and friends are invited to a funeral service at Oldham Crematorium Chapel on Thursday, September 1, at 1pm, followed by an interment at Hollinwood Cemetery.