Children face losing mum to cancer weeks after dad dies

A fund-raising campaign has been set up for two Solihull children who face losing both their parents within months of each other.

Louis, 16, and Ella Maley,14, are grieving from their father’s death three weeks ago and are now facing the sad prospect of losing their mother, who has been given a month to live.

Mother Emma Maley was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.

Sadly, it has turned into secondary breast cancer after spreading to her liver. She has been given a terminal diagnosis and was originally told she would not live to see last Christmas.

After tests in January she was told she had just a month to live.

The sad news comes after the children’s father Paul, 44, died on 8th March after suffering from an Arteriovenous Malformation growth on his brain for the past 18 months.

The Balsall Common couple were due to be married on 19th March after 18 years together, but tragically Paul did not live to see the date.

Emma’s cousin Kate Smith said: “Emma is just amazing, through all of this tragedy she still smiles and finds positivity.

“She hates being called an inspiration, but she is.”

“Paul and Emma literally were soul mates”, said Kate.

Paul was well-known in the area, and used to DJ under the name DJ Hyper at Premonition nightclub in Birmingham.

“He just adored her and she adores him.

“Despite all the tragedy in the past couple of years they still laughed together.”

The suddenness of Paul’s death shocked his family. They were unaware of how ill he was and believe he may have hidden the scale of it from them to spare them the difficulty of dealing with it.

“Maybe he played it down because of Emma’s illness or maybe he wasn’t told”, Kate said.

Their family is now preparing to provide for Louis and Ella in the event that their mother dies.

Kate has set up a fund-raising page, which aims to raise £5,000 to help the children. In just two days it has raised over £3,300.

“It will be for their future, for things that they need, big milestones, holidays for Louis and Ella, maybe a car for Louis”, said Kate.

The children will be looked after by Emma’s mum, who will be helped by Kate and Emma’s brother.

Ella requires full-time support as she has autism, and is currently at a specialist school.

“Paul would always help other people. He always said ‘You get back what you give’,” Kate added.

Emma is currently at home and is travelling into hospital to receive chemotherapy, but still remains positive.

“Even today when I saw Emma she was smiling”, said Kate.

“I am still hoping for a miracle for Emma so that she doesn’t go, we’re still praying.

“Just thank you to everyone so far for the amazing support for the family, it’s been overwhelming.”

The fund-raising page for the children is here: https://www.gofundme.com/louis-amp-ella-maley

Read more: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/children-face-losing-mum-cancer-14465826