Birkenhead husband pays tribute to wife who died from cervical cancer

Emma Rice, from Birkenhead, began experiencing heavy bleeding and went to her local GP who told her that her coil had become lodged and it had lacerated her womb.

Following this, Emma continued to go about her daily life, losing lots of blood and even becoming anemic.

After Emma received a professional examination she was diagnosed in February 2022 with stage three cervical cancer.

After a year of treatment, Emma received the devastating news that her cancer was at stage four, and had spread to her lungs in January 2023. She was given a life expectancy of 12 months.

Once Emma had received the life expectancy, her husband, David Rice, 33, also from Birkenhead, wanted to give his wife her "dream wedding" before she passed.

On Saturday, April 29, the couple, who had been together for 16 years, with money raised from a GoFundMe page, got married and had their special day.

Emma and David on their wedding day in April (Image: Emma Rice Facebok)

Speaking to the Globe, David said: "Thanks to the community and acts of kindness from strangers we were both able to get married which was something we had both always wanted but could never financially achieve after Covid and economic hardships.

"Emma's diagnosis came as a life-shattering shock to all of us that we were not expecting. We had both been reassured that her condition was nothing to be alarmed about as it was a contraceptive issue.

"Once we had the diagnosis, we both felt and knew that life would never be the same. Even with her diagnosis Emma worried not for herself but the others that would feel the pain if she was to lose the fight."

Emma Rice (Image: David Rice)

Emma went to Birkenhead High School and spent most of her career at Claughton Beauty and Sunbed Salon where she was promoted to shop manager after many years of working there.

Her hobbies were always activities that "involved being with others".

David said: "She loved to see people happy, and would often focus more on others than herself.

"Emma loved to stay active and in shape and was as beautiful inside as she was to look at. Being a mother was her true love, she loved her children beyond words, their happiness, safety and wellbeing was the centre of all her thoughts and actions." 

Parents to David Jr (11), Keeley-May (10) and Ariella (6), David said he and Emma would enjoy taking their children to arcades and fairgrounds, especially visiting Blackpool.

Emma and her daughter (Image: David Rice)

He explained: "Every day with Emma was special, I never once stopped chasing her the whole 16 years we shared together."

Emma spent the last five months of her life at St John's Wirral Hospice.

David said: "She was cared for beyond comparison there.

"Me and the children visited as often as we could but Emma did not go a day where she was not with family or friends, all of the staff at the hospice equally became close to Emma." 

Emma sadly passed away on June 29, exactly two months to the day that the couple had their wedding. 

On the day that she passed it was David and her grandmother in the room with Emma. She had fallen into an unresponsive sleep for six days and then passed on the seventh day. 

"Emma's nan was holding her hand and I was holding her other hand and had my arm around her shoulder", David explained. 

"I knew the heartbreaking moment had come but I told Emma that she had fought well and that she was ok to rest now and I kissed her on the head. 

"Her passing was peaceful which was the very least this beautiful soul deserved." 

Emma's funeral took place on Friday, July 28. Songs played at the funeral included A Thousand Years by Christina Perry, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

Her funeral and wedding were both followed up by a gathering at The Saddle Club in Prenton, who David said have been "amazing for Emma and our children". 

Emma Rice (Image: David Rice)

Raising awareness about catching cervical cancer early 

Emma wanted to raise awareness about cervical cancer, as she believed that if it was caught early, she wouldn't have had to suffer and eventually lose her life.

David said: "Emma did not want anyone to have to suffer as she has with something that could have been prevented, she did not want any children to lose their mothers, fathers to lose their daughters or husbands to lose their wives.

"She wanted to raise awareness for this and to have the age lowered for smear tests in women, as this form of cancer can start from when women become sexually active, we both believe that more can be done to prevent this from happening to others.

"I had to watch this cancer destroy Emma physically and mentally for a year and a half, this has left its impact on me and my children that we will never fully recover from.

"This doesn't have to be anyone else's story."