It’s the 11th October 2021, there is a severe weather front closing in and I have written about it before. I’m braced for impact. It’s my son’s 16th birthday tomorrow I am full of so much joy, pride, gratitude and love. I am brimming with heartache, loss and grief. Weather fronts are the transition boundary [...]
Being the parent to child with complex disabilities is like living on an island. The surrounding people each reside on their own islands which on the surface appear similar but feel worlds apart. To others, my island looked just like theirs, but I knew it was so very different. Although the other islands were not too [...]
It’s the summer holidays. It has rained a whole of two days and siblings around the country are complaining about the most mundane things. Like, “MUM! He’s looking at me funny. Tell him to stop." My eldest brother used to complain I breathed too loudly whilst he was watching the TV. He certainly used to stare [...]
A defining moment can happen anywhere, for us it came at ten weeks old, in the Hammersmith hospital in London. It was the line in the sand that once stepped over, there was no turning back. ‘When my son was in the scanner for longer than expected, a battle began in my mind. Was this a [...]
The truth is my son is wonderful. It’s true our lives are good. It’s true I am lucky and blessed in so many ways. It is true he is precious and unique, loved and created. It’s true he fills our home with love and has taught us all how to be better humans. It is true that [...]
Two years ago, I was sitting on my hospital bed alone, eight months pregnant. Unaware I would need an emergency c-section 3 hours later, I started thinking about choice and wrote this: 'It's the night before my third son will be born. Nearly four weeks before his due date and three weeks ahead of schedule. Once [...]
For about three seconds in 2005 (the year I became a mum) I thought I could be a SuperMum. It didn’t last long. Unfortunately, I spent a few years trying to pretend to be a Supermum. Every morning I donned my Lycra suit and tried to trick everyone into thinking I’m Superwoman. Having a son with severe disabilities meant [...]
As much as I love the summer, I’m glad it is autumn. It's time to collect conkers and pick the last few blackberries. Although I will miss the brighter days and warm sun on my face, the summer is my toughest season.
Over sixty years ago twin daughters were removed from their mother. Last week my son performed at the London Palladium. This is the story of how my family went from the Asylum to the Palladium.
Nine years ago today I woke cloaked by darkness and breastfed my firstborn son. Within a couple of hours we bundled our infant into his pushchair and headed towards the train station. We began a journey of Truth with Hope travelling alongside. Sam had an appointment in London for an MRI scan of his brain. Our [...]
