Jacqueline Emanaus

This site is a tribute to my dear sister Jackie who sadly departed this life 5 years ago. I hope that you will all share your memories of Jackie, sad, funny whatever they are, we want to hear them. Please all contribute to this site, I know it's been a long time coming but every time I have meant to make one I just couldn’t do it. So come on dig deep into your memory, let us remember and enjoy the endless mad stories of a wonderful Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunty, Cousin and Friend.

My earliest memories of my sister are when I was about 7 years old, my mum was on her way out and I was looking out the window with Jackie and she said to me shout out to mum ‘ARE YOU GOING TO GET NOOKIE TONIGHT?’ being only 7, had no idea what it meant but knew it was something bad when my Mum turned round stormed back to the house and gave me a beating to remember… Jackie was begging me not to say she told me to say it!!!

Really do not know where to start this tribute, letter to my sister; I want to give you all a clear picture, of my lovely, courageous sister Jackie. She really is my hero xxx

Jackie was diagnosed with cancer approx 7 years before she finally succumbed, to the disease and passed peacefully in Trinity Hospice on my daughter's 10th birthday; 20th July 2003. She was surrounded by all her loved ones right up until the end, we spent all day and night with her never leaving her on her own. At any one time you could find about 15 of her family at the Hospice taking care of her and supporting her children. Looking back now I realise how lucky we were to have that time with Jacckie, being at the hospice helped us to gradually let go.

Those of you who knew Jackie would understand the strength and courage this lovely sister displayed. She turned her back on conventional medicine and went in search of alternative medicine finding it in America under the guidance of Dr Hulga Clark. Her reason for seeking alternative is due to the sad fact that had she been really let down by our National Health Service after being diagnosed as negative when her cancer cells were in fact positive. I believe my sister would be here with us if it wasn’t for the Gross Misconduct of a member of staff at St George's Hospital in Tooting, London. After the grave mistake was uncovered she lost all faith and trust in the national health and sought alternative therapy.

Personally I am really amazed at how my sister coped with the news that she was so ill, she did not sit down and wait for it to ravish her body but fought it right till the end. I remember the call from my other sister telling me the bad news, I was watching the film ‘Nutty Professor’, waiting for Jackie to return from the hospital with her results. I never dreamt that they would be positive. I went straight to Jackie’s house really scared, anxious and worried, wanting to be strong for her but really crapping myself and woe and behold she is in her kitchen behaving normal and just said, "I am going to fight this!!!!" It was then that I realised that she was a strong individual and someone to be admired.

Throughout Jackie’s illness she remained the mad, crazy, funny, caring practical joker she had always been, often doing something really off key. I remember the Christmas present for one of my daughters, when we phoned her to ‘tell her off’ she acted like she had no clue as to what we were on about and saying in a dignified voice, ‘I did not do that’ then breaking into her infectious laugh. At parties you would be sure to hear Jackie’s laugh the loudest, centre of attention without trying,. I remember when she first came to London from Guernsey, she was stunning and her beauty never went unnoticed, bus conductors would not take her fare from her, she was worried about walking down the street on her own as male attention was in abundance and it used to scare her. The most beautiful thing about my sister was, she did not know how beautiful she was.

Growing up I was really in awe of her, in some ways I still am, she really was my HERO, sad thing is I never told her how much I cared, even at the end I don’t think I told her enough. She left 3 beautiful kids, Marissa, Chad and Kara; they are all a credit to their mum, I know things are not how we all want them to be but the gap left by my sister is so huge that even 5 years cannot dull the pain, yeah we all get on with our lives, but the pain of losing someone so wonderful is immense that time as a healer has not quite worked yet. She also has 3 grandsons, Tyriese born 3 months before she passed away and since then Kayden and latest edition Tristan, it is uncanny that she has 3 grandsons as she loved boys. I remember when sitting with her a couple of months before she passed her talking about her son Chad, she was so proud of him, she said "Geraldine I just love his personality, no matter how much I moan at him he never ever gets uptight or annoyed" and it's true, he is still like that. (A little too laid back Chad!!! But we all love you for it.)

I remember the detoxification. You convinced us to all go on it with you, or rather said as you had to do it we should show our support and detox as well!! I never felt so ill the first night and doubted I could last 2 weeks without food, surviving on juices, apple with this powder stuff sprinkled on it and carrot juice combined with a yukky green drink, not to mention the coffee enema’s (sorry had to be said) Day 1 – 3 was a nightmare but after that I never felt so well in my life, I looked better and my tummy was at its flattest. But I still find it hard to drink apple juice and when I do I remember the DETOX!!

The worse support you coerced us into doing was the cayenne pepper, raw powder. I still remember the effect it had on you and the herb used to counteract the effect, you were so amazed that you made, yes Jackie MADE me and Carmen try it, Carmen had the same effect as you and needed the herb, I on the other hand felt fine… Had bags of energy and went home and cleaned my house. Next morning, me and my fast self was at your door for another spoon of cayenne pepper, oh my goodness, I was fine for about 20 minutes then it started, the hot flushes, not a normal hot flush but extra hot Cayenne Pepper flush, throwing up, luckily I was able to alert you and you rushed over herb in hand to find me in agony half naked in my daughters' room, thankfully the magic herb worked for me. And what was your response to mine and Carmen’s reaction? Laughter! But we did figure out the reason I didn’t have a reaction the first time was because I had just had dinner, so we realised we could not take it on an empty stomach.

Jackie you really are my hero, growing up I thought you were so beautiful, I remember coming to St Josephs school one day and being so proud that this Ultra Cool Teenager was MY sister, I felt as if you were a celebrity in your school and I was bursting when you were showing me off as your little sister.

You must be overly proud of your children, I know they are not where they want to be in life right now but it takes time.. Isn’t Kara just a Stunner!!!! Marissa is you to a T her laugh is you all over again.. Chad is still the lovely laid back young man that you loved so much, as for your grandchildren, Tyriese has that same shyness that Chad had, Kayden (KK) what can I say, that boy is different, proper little Cool Dude, he is a joker, 3 yrs going on 20.. love him to bits…. And little Tristan yet to see his personality but sure it will shine through, double of his daddy, you would love your 3 little boys so much, so sad you are not here, unfair and still difficult to comprehend.

Love you Jackie, miss you so much, thank you for coming to me in my dream and letting me know you are ok, it meant so much to me, whether it was you or my imagination it did put my worries about you to rest. I know you are with Mum and Trevor has recently joined your clan. I am looking forward to everyone adding their stories of you to this site. Say hello to Mum tell her I miss her and love her, I will be setting up a site for her soon.

Till I write again

Love always G xx