North Carolina girl, 10, fulfills her last wish by ‘marrying’ her childhood sweetheart in a heartbreaking ceremony – days before she loses her brave battle against leukemia

By James On Aug 7, 2023

A dying 10-year-old whose last wish was to get married “tied the knot” to her childhood sweetheart — days before she died of leukemia.

Emma Edwards was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in April last year, but parents Alina, 39, and Aaron, 41, said they hoped she could overcome the disease.

But in June, the family received the heartbreaking news that Emma’s cancer, an aggressive form that affects white blood cells, was incurable and she had only days to live. Unfortunately, Emma passed away on July 11th.

Alina said Emma’s dream was to marry her boyfriend of two years, ten-year-old Daniel Marshall Christopher Williams Junior, aka DJ, with the couple previously trying to “marry” at school over lunch when they were eight.

Family and friends decided to team up to make Emma’s dream come true and a ceremony was held for the young couple on June 29, where 100 guests turned up to watch them tie the knot.

Emma Edwards was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in April last year, but parents Alina, 39, and Aaron, 41, said they hoped she could beat the disease

Family and friends decided to team up to make Emma’s dream come true and a ceremony was held for the young couple on June 29, where 100 guests turned up to watch them tie the knot.

Aaron walked Emma down the aisle in her grandmother’s garden as their third-grade teacher gave a speech about how the couple’s relationship began.

Stay-at-home mom Alina from Walnut Cove, North Carolina, said, “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, be a wife, and have three kids.

“Their teacher spoke at their wedding and said they tried to get married during recess.

“They had a bridesmaid and groomsmen and kids came to class in clip-on ties. It was very cute, but the teacher said there wouldn’t be a wedding in her class.

“When me and DJ’s mom found that out, we said we should get them married. It had to be done super fast.’

Emma Edwards and boyfriend of two years, ten-year-old Daniel Marshall Christopher Williams Junior, also known as DJ

Emma Edwards and DJ holding hands. Emma’s mother can also be seen on her right

DJ standing in anticipation as vows are read. He holds Emma’s hand

Emma’s mom and dad are seen joining Emma at the front of the ceremony

Emma’s father kisses her during the procedure. The guests are all seated

A heartwarming family photo at the June wedding with DJ sitting next to the bride

Emma and her mother Alina. Alina, from Walnut Cove, North Carolina, said, “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, become a wife, and have three kids.”

DJ comforts Emma in the hospital bed. Reflecting on her life, Alina and Aaron said they are thankful they could help her achieve her dream before she died

She added: ‘We put it together in less than two days, everything was donated in the end.

How common is acute lymphocytic leukemia in children?

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that begins with white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. Adults and children can get it, but it’s usually diagnosed in younger people.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment. Some people need a stem cell transplant.

ALL is the most common form of childhood cancer.

In the United States, about 75 percent of people under age 20 with leukemia are diagnosed with ALL.

Most cases occur between the ages of two and five.

However, it can be diagnosed at any age.

Each year, an estimated 400 people ages 15 to 19 in the US are diagnosed with the disease.

ALL is less common in girls than in boys.

Sources: Cancer.net and Cancer Research UK

“It was so precious and it went together so well. Her father can say that he gave her away.

“A friend of ours performed, a friend read a verse from the Bible, and her best friend was a bridesmaid.

“Everyone got to see her who couldn’t have done that. If you have cancer, you are isolated.

“Emma was a social butterfly, so it was hard for her to be away from everyone.

“Her doctors came, nurses, teachers, family, friends, everyone.

“She was in a lot of pain when we dressed her. It exhausted her, but she didn’t want to take painkillers because she didn’t want to fall asleep at her wedding.

‘DJ is the sweetest soul you will ever meet. He has a heart of gold and he really loves Emma.’

Alina and Aaron took Emma for another treatment when they received the heartbreaking news that she would not be able to overcome the disease.

Mum of five Alina said: ‘We went for a different kind of treatment and they told us she probably had days to a week, not weeks.

“We didn’t expect that at all. We thought we were going for a different kind of treatment and it would work.

“It was like a punch. You can’t imagine them saying there’s nothing else they can do for her.’

Alina said Emma appeared to be a healthy child until they took her to hospital because she fell and medics discovered the bone cancer in her legs last April.

Alina said, “She’s never been sick before. Suddenly she started to vomit.

“We found it by accident. She had fallen so they checked her legs and they found the cancer was eating holes in her bones and making her weak.”

Reflecting on her life, Alina and Aaron said they are thankful they could help her achieve her dream before she died.

Alina said, “She was a sweetheart. I always say we should make the marriage look really nice because that’s all she wanted.’