Anything but cancer – would you know what to look for in your child?

fred at cragside

As a mother, I maintained a high level of alert for my children, ever watchful for signs of impending disaster.  With Fred there was an extra level of peril because, like a velociraptor, he was always testing the fences looking for weak points.  Like that time he got up early and made a den by … Read more

Oven Gloves – Advice for the newly bereaved and those who love them

Oven gloves advice for the bereaved

It has been one year and two months since Fred died, and it is my second #NationalBereavedParentsDay.  That seems an extraordinary thing to write,  but there it is.  In that time, I have relied on the strength and grace of those that were bereaved before me, and have seen others follow.  I have also seen … Read more

Life and loss in lockdown – Fred’s story

Covent Garden

You never think it will happen to your family until it does.

Suddenly we were locked down. Our holiday was cancelled, Fred’s central line meant he could no longer go swimming.  We were not allowed to travel anywhere more than 30 minutes from our hospital. I carried a thermometer in my handbag to check for temperatures.

Why children don’t fight cancer

war on cancer

How we talk about children’s cancer matters. It’s easy to worry about saying the right thing, the wrong thing, and often people end up saying nothing at all, which is the worst of all. The language used usually involves wars, battles, fighting, bravery. In many ways it’s odd. We never say a child lost their battle against an articulated lorry, but cancer it seems is up for the fight.

Get down from there – life with childhood leukaemia

Life with Leukaemia

A month ago today, I was sitting in Regent’s Park, reading a book, drinking coffee.  I had an evening at the theatre planned.  For the first time in years I felt that everything was under control. I’d spent the previous evening watching Barbra Streisand. I would never to make it to the theatre.  6 hours … Read more