“Emma was determined to be alive for Christmas and put all her energy into being able to see her children open their presents. Later in the day, having fought hard for that precious last Christmas moment, Emma hit rock bottom.”

Emma King's story told by her sister, Hayley Penfold.

Emma King from Maidstone was a remarkable woman whose battle with pancreatic cancer touched countless lives. Born in 1977, she was one of seven children, lively and energetic. Emma’s life took a romantic turn at 16 years old when, Nick, her teenage crush asked her out. After 13 beautiful years together, they married, and on 10/10/2010, were blessed with two twin daughters, Betty and Olive. A little boy, Ernie, followed a couple of years later in 2012. 

Before her diagnosis, Emma lived life to the fullest. Working for Age UK, she was known for her caring nature and dedication to helping others. A fitness enthusiast, she was a regular at running clubs and sports classes, maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, something that made her subsequent diagnosis all the more shocking. 

In 2017, Emma, aged 40, began experiencing troubling symptoms. What started as digestive issues evolved into persistent stomach problems, particularly on her right side. She was back and forth to the doctors who told her to keep a food diary and put it down to multiple food intolerances, IBS symptoms, and wheat sensitivity. Emma was losing weight dramatically and being already slim, looked very unwell. Despite these ongoing issues, no scan was suggested. 

By August 2019, two years later, Emma’s symptoms had become impossible to ignore. She knew her body and she knew this was more than a food intolerance. A CT scan finally revealed a mass on her pancreas. Terrified, Emma had to wait another week to find out the results, until she was told the devastating news – it was cancer and, it had spread to the liver. While the cancer was considered manageable, it was, heartbreakingly, incurable. 

Emma approached her treatment with determination. She underwent regular chemotherapy, complemented by CBD oil, which showed promising blood results when taken before treatments. However, a few months later in December, her condition had deteriorated significantly, and she was rushed to hospital with pneumonia. As a family we were with her all the time. She was never alone. We were convinced she would be in hospital over Christmas, and everyone was so sad for her and the children. 

Remarkably, Emma made it home just before Christmas, creating what would become precious final memories. Christmas 2019 was, in her words, “magical” and “the best Christmas”, made especially meaningful by the presence of her all her family. Emma had even saved money for a dream trip to Euro Disney for all the children, which sadly had to be cancelled as Emma became too unwell to travel. A short time later, local charity, Hayley’s Heroes, stepped in and paid for the family to visit Lapland UK, but in a cruel turn of events, Emma was too unwell to go. Our close-knit family, friends and the community, also started Emma’s Army, rallying around her and raised an extraordinary sum of more than £40,000 for alternative treatments. 

As 2020 drew to a close, Emma’s health declined further, with lumps appearing in her back during October and November. The chemotherapy had stopped working and hormone injections didn’t help. Emma was determined to be alive for Christmas and put all her energy into being able to see her children open their presents on Christmas morning. Later in the day, having fought hard for that precious last Christmas moment, Emma hit rock bottom.  

On 4th January 2021, the family received news that Emma had approximately one week left. True to her nurturing nature, she spent her final days ensuring her children were prepared and sent them out of the house, three days before, so they did not have be there for her death. On 11th January 2021, with my mum, stepfather and her husband, Nick, by her side, Emma died peacefully, at 10 to 10 – the same date as her twin daughter’s birthday, a final touching connection to her beloved family. 

The local community’s support was extraordinary. While COVID restrictions meant the funeral would be limited to 30 people, this inspired creative expressions of love. Emma’s friends and family lined the streets, and the community participated in a touching ‘feather showing’, with bags of feathers distributed throughout. 

The funds raised for Emma’s alternative treatments were directed toward her children’s university funds. My family continue to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer Action and pancreatic cancer research. Emma’s sister Lydia ran the London marathon on her behalf, something which Em always wanted to do herself, raising more than £5000. Emma held a special place in her heart for the Buttercups Goat Sanctuary, with charity, BOES, fundraising more than £6,000. Emma wanted to volunteer but didn’t have the strength. There is a plaque on the tree and a pen named after her in recognition.  

I hope that by sharing my sister’s story, it will help others recognise the symptoms early enough to survive.