She woke up to a Mother’s worst nightmare to be told her precious, funny, kind and caring 21-year-old son had been stabbed. Shortly thereafter she was told that he had died from his injury by suffocating on his blood as he fought hard to stay alive. The horror, disbelief and pleading with God and the universe for it not to be true lasted until the moment she saw her child laid out, in a cold, unwelcoming mortuary, 3 days later. As she kissed his face and leaned into him his cheek felt warm and she felt hope, he was alive after all, it had all been a nightmare. No, it was not meant to be, it was a cruel sick joke as he was warm where she had kissed and stroked his face so much. The rest of his lifeless body was as cold and as still as it had been when she first touched him.
Living life without her Son is her reality, one that no mother should ever have to bare. Alas, she pushes forward often dragging one foot in front of the other into a new day forever asking herself the same question others ask of her, how do you do it? The answer is she doesn’t know how, as there is no sense in it at all, imagine living without your child. But she does and she does it well as her mission is to help others in memory of him, a promise she made to him. She pushes for a change in the Law, campaigns for justice and shares their story helping to prevent crime and support victims. All the while she continues to be a supportive mother to her now an only child who also grieves her sibling alongside her.
I have taken the road less travelled and in the face of adversity, I have forged ahead, yes me the woman whose profile you connect with, and who is grateful for every connection which has brought her hope and helped her to enable positive change. The very same woman who wears a miles while nurturing a broken heart.
Josh was a son to be proud of and I shall forever speak his name as I celebrate his life and bring him along on my journey with me.
Please spare a thought for those of us who share the spirit of Christmas and the New Year with you while we remember our loved ones. Be patient and kind to one another and above all else show gratitude for what you have in your life.
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year
#inmemoryofJosh #christmaspast #bereavedmum #youarenotalone
Thank you for all of your support throughout 2022 Harry.
Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.
