In memory of Emma

In our online shop we stock a range of festive Christmas cards that you can personalise and send direct to friends and family, while giving to a good cause.

We're delighted to have recently added three designs by artist Emma McKinlay. Her parents Sue and Ross have kindly donated her artwork in memory of Emma, who died aged 24.

"It was in November 2014, midway through the first term of my final year at Oxford, that I discovered that the flu that I had had for three weeks was not actually flu after all.

"It was haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which can either be sung to the tune of ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, or shortened to the more manageable HLH! My skin went yellow and my stomach swelled with fluid. I lost lots of weight and the chemotherapy made me lose my hair."

But this was just the beginning of a long battle for Emma with many highs and lows.

Sadly, when she was 24 years old, Emma died due to complications of a stem cell transplant, which she was given to try to treat the rare blood malignancy which was thought to have triggered her HLH.

She was a a student in History of Art when she was diagnosed and had always been very creative. During her illness with its many challenges, she continued to be so by writing, drawing, designing, teaching herself embroidery, pressing flowers, she even managed to paint one of the giant knights in Lincoln’s City Knight Trail in 2017. Emma died on the last day of the trail.

"Emma made these cards hoping that they could be used to fundraise for a good cause and we are delighted that they are now being sold in aid of Blood UK after her death. Emma was a kind, funny, beautiful, loving, talented soul and we miss her more than words can express.

"It is a comfort to think that the sale of these cards might help others who have blood cancer, either practically with information or by funding research to help find new and better treatments."

You can purchase Emma's cards here.