Today was the hydro active. It was amazing. Indescribably amazing. A day full of emotion, desire, achievement, happiness, memory, reflection, and celebration. I was going to write a nice long blog about it all but then my mum emailed me this beautiful piece she has just written. I figured I’d let her wiggle into the limelight instead. Will blog more about my feelings on it all tomorrow, and post some pics! But for now, over to my Mummy.

"A week or so ago, I watched a TV news item featuring a couple who had won 8 million pounds on the lottery. As they were interviewed, their faces betrayed a mix of delight, wonder, disbelief and just a tiny bit of fear, perhaps that they would be taken to one side at any moment and told that it had all been a big mistake or dream.
I mirrored that expression on Sunday as watched with the most enormous pride fabulous Emily with her fantastic sisters and my ever youthful 76 year old mum, complete the Hydro Active 5km challenge around Hyde Park which, just a short year ago, seemed one dream away too far.

Last September, after months of hospitalisation due to her death defying round of collapsed lungs, we wheeled her out of the Brompton Hospital for the day and pushed a weary, cold but jubilant Emily in her wheelchair together with canisters of oxygen across the grass to join over 70 friends and all round wonderful souls who had gathered to support her. Their positive energy seemed to transfer as they took it in turns (unless a camera was about when it became my turn) to wheel both the chair and the portable oxygen around the 5km. At the time I looked at that frail body and rejoiced in how well she looked that day, but, looking back, I was just trying to avoid thinking the unthinkable, that our time together was well and truly running out.

12 months later, and I had to nip and weave along the course to keep up with my smiley, rosy faced, beautiful, courageous daughter who has been given a new chance at life life that she has honestly embraced and enjoyed every single day since departing Harefield Hospital in March.

Courage however was definitely the theme of the day: Lovely Maggie whose kind, generous eloquent thoughts leave me in awe who was walking with happy memories of Gaz and amazing Sue from Newcastle who taught me a lesson in courage and depth of character when remembering Chris with such dignity and that is not to mention super mum of 3, Sarah with Wills, running with such positivity and hope. I can not mention all of you but I do want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for your smiles and hugs and support for the irreplaceable pink fairy."

www.justgiving.com/emilysangels2007