In Memory of Emma

On Northwest Tonight today, there was a report about a girl Called Emma Burrows, who died recently. She was 27 and had been diabetic since she was a child. When she was at school she had been bullied and excluded by other children because of her diabetes. They called her 'Drug Addict' and wouldn't speak to her, one child pushed her into the road. The bullying continued into secandary school, and Emma stopped taking her insulin in an effort to be 'normal', she lost weight rapidly and her body was damaged irreversibly in the process. In her teens Emma regained control of her diabetes, and went to Art College, but the damage was already done, her Kidneys and Pancreas failed and she was given a double kidney and Pancreas transplant. Due to complications after the transplant, she died.

I knew Emma Burrows. The first time I met her was when I was about 13, she was in a production of Alice in Wonderland in Aid f the Then British Diabetic Association (Now Diabetes UK). She Played Alice. She was beautiful, bubbly and always had a smile on her face. She was friendly and made everyone feel happy just watching her. I saw her again a few times after that because we were a part of the same diabetic support group. The last time I remember meeting her was at an easter egg rolling charity event. The beautiful, bubbly girl was now emaciated, a walking skeleton from not taking her medication and not eating properly. Still the smiles were on her face, but she looked like a walking skeleton.

I will remember Emma in two ways... the bright, confident actress, and the gaunt, skeletal girl. In both memories the smile is the same.

I am lucky that I was never bullied about my diabetes at school, everyone I have ever come across has always been understanding and supportive. I feel very srongly that if Emma had not been bullied and made to feel like a 'freak' by her peers as a child, that she would sill be alive today, and brightening up the world wth her smle and her artwork.

Her work s crrently on show at The Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead.