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Alexandra’s mum Melissa with council leader James Kempton |
Singing star Alex’s triumph the Xtra tonic mum needed
‘Little girl with the big voice’ takes TV title as her inspiration waits for kidney transplant
HER feet have hardly touched the ground since Saturday night. Alexandra Burke, the nation’s latest singing sensation, didn’t even have time for her daily phone calls to mum.
The 20-year-old from Barnsbury with the fantastic voice embarked on a hectic schedule of promotions, parties and media interviews this week after being crowned ITV’s X Factor winner.
Not that mum Melissa Bell, who is Alex’s main inspiration, was too put out that her now-famous daughter was unable to get in touch for three days. Up to the final she was ringing twice a day from her X Factor hideaway to find out how mum was.
Ex-Soul II Soul singer Melissa, 44, who has kidney failure brought on by diabetes, undergoes dialysis three times a week at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. She is thrilled by her daughter’s triumph. “Let her enjoy it while she can,” Melissa said at her home off Caledonian Road this week. “Next week it’s back to reality and getting down to the real hard work of being a full-time pop singer.”
Alex’s recording of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is expected to be the Christmas Number 1 and to become the fastest-selling download single of all time.
Melissa hopes Alex will be able to join her at a carol concert on Tuesday, with patients at the Mary Rankin Dialysis Unit at St Pancras Hospital in King’s Cross.
Meanwhile, Alex’s win has given Melissa a terrific tonic. Best moment in the competition? Melissa said: “For me, it was when Alex performed with Beyoncé in a duet at the semi-finals. Worst, for me, was having to go in and out of hospital throughout and often feeling quite low.”
With the competition over and with Alex’s help, Melissa must now start appealing for a kidney donor. The kidney would need to be the right tissue match. Potential donors can email Melissa at home.
The transplant will be carried out at the Royal Free Hospital by Melissa’s “wonderful” consultant surgeon, Dr Dimbi Fernando. Harrods owner Al Fayed, who met Alex this week, has offered her mother the services of his personal physician.
Melissa thanked Tribune readers for being the first to launch the “vote for Alex” campaign back in early October. It all began with a letter to the paper from her former dance teacher, Shirley McMullins at Copenhagen primary school, “prevailing” on readers to vote for Alex in the early rounds. The campaign went on to include Islington Mayor Stefan Kasprzyk, who described himself as a “great fan”. Last week, the Lib Dem leader of the council, Councillor James Kempton, urged everyone to vote for her in the final.
“I’m very proud of Alex,” Cllr Kempton said yesterday (Thursday). He is planning to celebrate her victory with a party, probably at the Emirates Stadium, in the New Year.
Alex has always paid tribute to teachers at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, in Penton Street, particularly singing coach Sarah Beagley. Ms Beagley said this week: “She is the little girl with a big voice who went on to conquer the world.”
Can you donate a kidney? For information, contact Melissabell29@hotmail.com |
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