A woman dreamed of having her own garden. She pictured herself planting and tending flowers of all shapes and sizes. She hoped her borders would brim with colour and fragrance, laced with creepers displaying exotic blooms and a winding path through blossoms humming with wildlife. When she moved in to her forever [...]
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 [...]
**WARNING IMAGINATION REQUIRED** Imagine me in a Miss World competition. Obviously to do this, you'd have to believe I've abandoned any feminist ideals, grown a foot in height, enhanced my breasts and shrunk my waist. But, bear with me... Should I ever be a contestant on Miss World and the MC asks me what would be my one wish, it probably wouldn't be 'World [...]
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 [...]
Is it just me? Or does anyone else feel like they are desperately trying to keep their house in order whilst stopping themselves from falling over the edge? I’ve always enjoyed living life a little on the edge. I love travelling and feeling like the foreigner. I’ve even been known to eat something that is a day [...]
When I worked as a nurse in A&E, I knew that even in the middle of emergency procedures, how I treated the patient and family would be remembered. As a parent standing over my fitting son while the doctors fought to stop an hour long seizure, this simple fact went from theory to reality. As a healthcare professional [...]
Shakin’ Stevens and Slade are unashamedly blaring out from music systems around the country. The usual suspects have decked their National Lampoon homes with sufficient lights to be seen from space. ‘Miracle of 34th Street’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ are scheduled on a loop over the next couple of weeks. You’ve seen the Coca Cola ad, the [...]
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.
It is a common phenomenon for parents of children with complex needs to hear 'No' from professionals and councils. A universal experience is our need to fight for our children.
