Ask any parent and they’ll likely tell you there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their child.
Becoming a mother or father changes life in ways that are hard to explain. From that day on, parents dedicate themselves to loving, caring for, and worrying about their child for the rest of their lives.
Sadly, though, there are some things even parents can’t prevent. Accidents and illness are part of life, and too many children suffer from things they can’t control.
Alina and Aaron Edwards’ lives were turned upside down when they learned that their 9-year-old daughter, Emma, had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Heartbroken, they held onto hope that Emma could fight the cancer. But after a few months, doctors delivered the devastating news that there was nothing more they could do to save her.
Determined to make the most of the time they had left, Emma’s parents decided to fulfill her wishes.
Many children in such situations might want to meet a celebrity, visit Disneyland, or walk out onto a sports field with their favorite player.
But Emma’s wish was different. She wanted to marry her 10-year-old boyfriend, DJ.
Before long, Emma’s wish gained a lot of attention from her local community. Volunteers and supporters came together under the name “Emma’s Army,” all working towards making the little girl’s dream come true before her time ran out.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation eventually stepped in to help Emma’s family raise funds. Emma’s mom, Alina, explained, “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, be a wife, and have three kids.”
Reports say this wasn’t the first time Emma and DJ tried to marry each other. At the age of eight, the two had attempted to have a wedding at school. They even picked out bridesmaids and groomsmen from their classmates. However, their teacher didn’t allow the “wedding,” no matter how unofficial it was.
This time, though, the wedding had the full support of their parents and the help of countless kind-hearted people who were determined to make Emma’s wish come true.
“We put it all together in less than two days, and everything was donated. It was so precious, and it came together perfectly,” Alina shared.
When the big day arrived, the special moment was captured on video, including interviews with some of the guests. The young groom, DJ, shared his feelings, saying, “I thought she was the most beautiful person I ever saw. Ever since, I loved her.”
Emma’s mom, Alina, also had heartfelt words for DJ, expressing her gratitude for her daughter’s caring friend. In an emotional Facebook post, she wrote:
“DJ has been Emma’s ‘Boo bear’ since 3rd grade, and seeing these two together will melt your heart. DJ protects her, helps her, and makes her heart soar. She loves him, and I know he loves her too! He’s stood by her side through all the ups and downs and kept her smiling. DJ will forever be family.”
On June 29, Emma’s dream wedding became a reality. Arriving in a wheelchair, pushed by her loving parents, Emma wore a stunning purple dress and smiled brightly as her father escorted her down the aisle.
Emma and DJ exchanged rings and vows, with DJ sealing the ceremony with a sweet kiss. After the wedding, Emma returned to rest in bed, but her joy from the day was clear to everyone who saw her.
Sadly, just a few weeks later, on July 11, 2023, Emma passed away after bravely battling leukemia.
Her obituary read: “Emma Brooks Edwards entered heaven and into the loving arms of her Great-grandma Frannie Annie on July 11, 2023, surrounded by those who love her most. Emma was 10 years old and battled leukemia for 16 months. Our little unicorn, Emma, was born on April 22, 2013, and completed the Edwards family. She loved arts and crafts, practical jokes, her family, friends, Jesus, and her newlywed ‘husband,’ DJ. Emma was a light to all who knew her and an inspiration to everyone she met. She was the best daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, aunt, ‘wife,’ and friend. Her legacy is one of strength, humor, and endless love for all.”
Rest in peace, Emma, a beautiful soul taken far too soon.
Why More Happy Couples Prefer to Sleep in Separate Beds
According to a survey, only 14% of couples sleep in separate beds every night. And while many of us might believe in the saying “couples who sleep apart grow apart” there are studies that show the opposite is actually true.
We at Bright Side believe that there are no wrong or right sleep arrangements, because to some, sleeping in different beds can be as pleasing as for others sharing a bed with their partner.
A poor night’s sleep can turn lovers into fighters.
According to research, sharing a bed with a partner that has restless sleep behavior can deprive you of 49 minutes of sleep each night. And, when one partner doesn’t get a proper night’s sleep because of the other, it will most likely result in a conflict between them the next day.
Actually, the study even confirmed that couples who tend to have a poor night’s sleep have more severe and more frequent fights than those who wake up well-rested. People who get a good night’s sleep, on the other hand, are more likely to be in a good mood, have lower stress levels, and be more patient.
Resenting your partner because you can’t get a good night’s sleep can be destructive to the relationship.
Snoring, fidgeting, and bed or blanket hogging are just a few of many reasons why some couples choose to sleep in different beds or even in different bedrooms. Lying awake listening to your partner snoring while you beat yourself up to fall asleep can lead to a build-up of anger, tension, and resentment toward your partner.
According to Jennifer Adams, author of Sleeping Apart Not Falling Apart, sleeping in a separate bedroom can even help a relationship thrive because both partners are not sleep deprived.
Each partner can tailor their sleeping conditions to their heart’s content.
Tina Cooper, a licensed social worker, sleeps in different bedrooms with her partner because of their opposite sleeping habits. “I’m a night owl, he’s an early bird. I need soothing sounds to fall asleep, and he likes silence. He likes a hard mattress, and I like soft and full of pillows. And because I don’t like the early day’s sunlight, my boyfriend gave me the master bedroom which gets less light and he has the second largest room that gets the sunrise he loves.”
How you spend the nighttime in your shared bedroom with your partner can also influence your daytime functioning, marital satisfaction, and psychological and physical health. And when 2 people with different bedtime preferences and nighttime schedules end up together, changing themselves just to please their partner’s needs might harm their relationship in the long run.
Sleeping in different bedrooms with your partner means that the 2 of you will have a place just for yourselves where you can relax after an exhausting day. This way, both of you can satisfy your needs without tiptoeing around and worrying about whether your partner might wake up because you want to watch the latest episode of your show before bed.
Even if you don’t remember waking up, disturbed sleep can have a negative impact on your overall health.
During the night, our brain cycles through the stages of sleep several times: light sleep, deep sleep, and REM (Rapid eye movement sleep). But when you interrupt the cycle by waking up during the night, it means that your brain spends more time in the light sleep stage and misses out on REM. And without sufficient REM your emotional well-being and cognitive performance suffer.
Interrupted sleep can also have short and long-term health consequences, like hypertension, weight-related issues, mental health problems, reduced quality of life, and other health-related issues.
People on Reddit share why they decided to sleep separately with their partner.
- “Because a good night’s sleep is more romantic than sharing a bed. I snore and toss and turn. He gives off literal village levels of heat in his sleep and I can’t stand the heat. I read, he can’t stand light. We keep different hours to an extent. A million reasons. We get along so much better this way.” — crankyweasels
- “My partner and I have completely separate bedrooms. We ’sleepover’ occasionally in each other’s rooms. However, we both sleep exponentially better apart. He’s a night owl and I’m an early bird. He wants only one sheet on him, I want 10 lbs of blankets. In addition, having a separate room allows me to decorate it however I want, have my own personal space, and keep it to the level of cleanliness I prefer. People look at us sideways when I mention the separate rooms thing, but it’s been a game-changer.” — eriasana
- “Different sleep cycles due to different work schedules. We are still madly in love and we both agreed to this because it’s the best for both of us.” — AFishInATank
- “Early in our relationship, 90% of our fights occurred in the bedroom. I like to sleep in a cold room with the fan on and white noise like a box fan. I also like to go to sleep with the TV on. She likes to sleep in a warm, still, cave in complete silence and darkness. We started sleeping in separate rooms and all of a sudden 90% of our fights stopped. Also, because we were getting real sleep, other fights turned more into heated discussions.” — ttc8420
What are your sleeping arrangements with your partner? Do you believe sleeping in different beds can help a relationship thrive?
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