Hastings man's tribute to wife, 39, after sudden death from stroke

Nick Sharp, from Hastings, said his wife Emma was his ‘best friend and soulmate’.

Emma was taken ill on December 17 and then admitted to hospital. However, she died last Wednesday (January 4).

Nick said: “Emma and I met in a pub in town. I knew as soon as I laid eyes on my Emma she was the one for me.

"She was a very bright, funny, and always up for a laugh. I always knew she was going to be the one for me. My wife, my best friend, my soul mate. We were together for about a year before we finally decided to get married.

"Emma changed my life forever for the better. My Emma always loved going for days out, like shopping, spending time with family and friends and having the occasional drink.

"Emma always loved to plan to go on holidays to Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire. We met some of our good friends there. Emma was always up for a good laugh, she liked to go to the theme parks.

"Life without my loving caring wife won’t be the same ever again.”

Emma’s sister-in-law, Marcie Hall and her husband Craig, Emma’s brother, have this week paid tribute to her.

Marcie said: “On December 17 we sadly got a phone call to say Emma had a severe stroke, the news no one wants to hear a week before Christmas or any time on this matter.

“Myself and Emma’s husband, Nick had to make a big decision fast on whether we wanted to give Emma the life saving/changing surgery or let her pass away in peace. With this myself and Nick decided to give Emma the operation she needed. Emma got sent to a major trauma hospital to have her operation, which she spent 15 days in intensive care after her operation.”

Emma was put on a ventilator and taken off it on New Year’s Day so she could breathe on her own, Marcie added.

She said: “Emma was picking up and doing as well as she could be breathing on her own. She got moved to a ward where we thought she was doing well.

“We sadly got a phone call from the hospital on January 4 to say Emma had lost her battle.

"Emma was loved by so many people and us as a family and community we all want to come together and give Emma the best send-off she deserved. At the age of 39 you don’t expect this to happen. Her sudden death came as a shock to all us family and her friends.

Marcie and Craig have now set up a Gofundme page to help raise money towards Emma’s funeral costs, with more than £500 raised so far against a £2,500 target.

Marcie said: "When Emma passed away, we as a family didn’t know how we would afford to give the send-off she deserved. Then one of my friends suggested setting up a Gofundme page. We didn’t realise how generous people can be by sharing on various social media platforms.”

The Gofundme page can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/the-loss-of-our-emma.