Tag Archives: Death

National Transplant Week – Abi’s organ donation update

This week is National Transplant Week, and I’ve just changed my profile picture in support of the campaign (see here to do the same) and I thought it a perfect opportunity to share the outcome of Abi’s organ donation. At her death, we opted to donate some of Abi’s organs – her lungs, liver, pancreasContinueContinue reading “National Transplant Week – Abi’s organ donation update”

Dust to dust – interring Abi’s ashes

Following on from My Great Loves guest post about turning back into dust, I wanted to share our experience of interring Abi’s ashes. Choosing a burial or cremation is a decision I really wasn’t prepared for when Abi died. I knew she’d died and that we’d have to have a funeral, but I just didn’tContinueContinue reading “Dust to dust – interring Abi’s ashes”

Guest post: Forever 12

This guest post was written by my friend Sarah, whose son was in the same school and year as Abi. As her son turned 13 this weekend, Sarah reflects in this moving and inspiring post on what it is to be forever 12.When my eldest reached the milestone of his teenage years last week, itContinueContinue reading “Guest post: Forever 12”

Into eternal sleep… turning off life support

These words were hard to write (just a month after Abi died last year), and I expect are just as hard to read. But talking about dying matters to me. I know there are other parents going through this every day – saying goodbye to their baby or child, whatever age, whether expected or not.ContinueContinue reading “Into eternal sleep… turning off life support”

Why I’m dying to write about dying

I heard on the news today that – shock, surprise – people don’t like talking about death! This type of ‘research’ irritates me. Of course we don’t like talking about death and our mortality. It’s depressing for a start, not to mention bringing up painful emotions, or making us realise we’re not getting any younger.ContinueContinue reading “Why I’m dying to write about dying”

Child Benefit… a sore subject for the bereaved parent!

Oh the irony. Having just had a baby, I’ve finally got round to filling out the claim form for child benefit, the same day we receive our first correctly adjusted and reduced payment (for two children instead of three) following Abi’s death 14 months ago. Dealing with the Child Benefit department at HM Revenue andContinueContinue reading “Child Benefit… a sore subject for the bereaved parent!”

A blob of gum

We cleaned our cars at the weekend, not a common occurrence I’m ashamed to admit especially with a newborn keeping our tired arms occupied enough, but after the recent sandy rain we couldn’t put it off any longer. However, there’s one spot in my car (the family estate) which I’ll never clean… the boot sideContinueContinue reading “A blob of gum”

Do you want to build a snowman?

I recently sat down with my son and daughter to watch Frozen. I realise we’re rather late as it was a Christmas movie, but at the time we weren’t keen to see it (going to the cinema was just not fun anymore). So I put it on as an afternoon distraction for us on aContinueContinue reading “Do you want to build a snowman?”

Guest blog: Collective emotion

[This article was written by my good friend Sali Green, reproduced with Sali’s kind permission] An unexplainable sadness hit a great many people on hearing of the death of Peaches Geldof. But is it unexplainable? Some feel surprised and uncomfortable that they become part of a collective grief over someone they never met. Others showContinueContinue reading “Guest blog: Collective emotion”