Ten-year-old Emma Edwards had always dreamed of marrying, even attempting to hold a wedding with her friend Daniel Marshall Christopher at their elementary school, which their teacher refused. However, love triumphed over all, and Emma and Daniel exchanged vows in a grand ceremony on June 29, just 12 days before Emma passed away from leukemia.
Emma was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April 2022. Her parents, Alina and Aaron Edwards, from Walnut Cove, North Carolina, hoped she could overcome the illness. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common type of cancer among children, but fortunately, treatments can offer all patients a good chance of healing.
In June, Emma’s parents received the news that the cancer was untreatable and that she had only a few days left to live. Alina, Emma’s mother, said, “They told us she might have just a few days to live. We never expected to hear that. We were trying to have her treated in other ways.” Within two days, Emma and Daniel's mothers decided to plan a mock "wedding" in the park attended by around 100 guests. Alina added, “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, be a wife, and have three kids. So we wanted to fulfill her last wish.”
Emma had appeared to be a healthy child until last year when she was hospitalized after falling, and doctors discovered cancer in her leg bones. Alina said, “She was not sick before. Suddenly, she started vomiting. We found it by chance. She fell, so they examined her legs and found that the cancer was eating her bones.”
Emma's friends and neighbors showed their support for her and the entire Edwards family. Racers at Bowman Gray Stadium near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, placed “Emma’s Army” stickers on their cars during a racing event in July. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that the stickers were also being sold to raise funds to help the Edwards family. In June, there was another fundraising event to assist the family with medical bills, attended by many drivers.
