We will never forgot the day we found Sam collapsed when he had returned home from a run on the park. Our loving and caring boy who was an integral part of our life being there one moment and not the next left us devastated. A sense of injustice of how someone so young and healthy,
We tragically lost our son/brother on January 16th 2021 at the young age of 23 years old. He was just the kindest caring and most loving young man anyone could meet. He showed no signs of illness prior to losing him, his only health issues we were ever aware of was debilitating migraines which he suffered
Like a lot of Mum’s I have boxes in the loft with my children’s drawings, cards, special stories etc. In the Summer of 2018 as Izzy was preparing to go to University I decided to make her a photo book with all her favourite people and little oddments from her childhood. It was then I rediscovered
One year ago today (15th May 2017), our beautiful 16 year-old son, Ben, was taken from us. Not a victim of violence, or an accident, or an illness. He simply died. I desperately want to believe in God & heaven…to take some comfort from that but if there is a God, a loving God as we’re
Matt was born in Portsmouth on 29th September 1989 and grew up in Gosport, Hampshire, I served as a marine engineer in the Royal Navy during his youth so he was always surrounded by sailors, ships, the sea and engineering. He went to Brune Park School in Gosport but wasn’t a studious type of boy however
Alex was a very active child when growing up. He was always running around and taking part in football tournaments at our local adventure playground. On the 21st February 2004 Alex got his open water Padi diving licence, he was 10 years old. On the 26th June 2005 he got his karate black belt, Alex was
Madeleine died in December 2000 when I was 38. She was 2 and had been suffering from flu-like symptoms for several days. Jane, my wife, had taken her to the doctors a few times, only to be told she was being a neurotic mother. Madeleine hadn’t been feeling well all day and was very quiet. She
Stuart (aged 25) collapsed and died on the afternoon of Saturday 21st September 2013 while playing football for the second’s team at Islandmagee Football Club. Up to that point he had been perfectly well and to the best of our knowledge had no symptoms or anything wrong with him that we would have been concerned about.
I am glad we took so many photographs of Laura, for the numerous memories and reminders they bring back of her personality. Fearless Laura, aged seven, standing with me viewing our house building work from the top scaffold; Laura with her loving pet rabbit, who allowed her to pick him up at any time, but growled
On January 9th 2007, my son Chris Doyle, after having played a game of soccer, went home and complained of not feeling well. His mum sat up with him and Chris insisted on going to bed and told everyone he would be OK. His mum went to wake him for school (Galashiels Academy) but found him
Today should have been my son’s 15th birthday. Instead I am writing about life after Tom. Tom died in his sleep in October this year of an undiagnosed heart-related condition. He had been fit, active, healthy, doing well at school, bright and happy. We were not, in any way, prepared. This is not about my wife
From the day Claire was born there was no mistaking she was a little girl, her sparkling blue eyes and smile would bring warmth to everyone who met her, feminine to the ends of her eye lashes. As Claire grew up in to a young lady her personality was one of embracing the love of her
On the morning of Sunday 12th October 2008, myself and my wife Beverley were sat at home with our morning cup of tea. Beverley had just returned from dropping our son off to do his local paper round. When the phone rang, Beverley answered it and I immediately saw the colour drain from her face, she
It’s now 8 months since, on the eventful evening of 13th September 2008, we learnt our dearly beloved son Kieran had died and left us. I am sure that we do not have to tell you how we feel, only that he along with his surviving sister Sinead, they were our very reason and purpose for
My name is Michael Shepherd and I’m 53 years old. I live with my wife Janice, 51, and son Liam, 23, in Bolsover – a small town 6 miles from Chesterfield in Derbyshire. All was well in our lives until the horror, which came on Friday 19th May 2006. Our daughter Lisa, 23, a staff nurse
If you are reading this story of our experiences, following the death of our son, then you will fall into one of 3 categories. The first and most important group are those directly affected by such events. The fact that you are reading this if you have recently lost someone is a positive sign as you
Presented here is an edited version of a chapter I wrote for a book a couple of years ago and remembers Joe Pearce Willis, our son. Fred Pearce and Sarah Willis Edited extract from Fred Pearce’s book “Confessions of an Eco-Sinner” (Eden Project Books, 2008). Our household survived without a mobile phone for a long time.
Andrew Mark was my first born, a perfect baby in every way. He grew up into a fine young man, a great son, and a wonderful brother to Stephen and Timothy. He loved and enjoyed life to the fullest. Andrew grew fast and was tall for his age. He experienced a couple of fainting attacks as
Ben was passionate about sport. Cricket, football and tennis were his mainstays, playing for Old Elthamians CC, Ravens Wood School, Ex Blues FC, and Bromley Tennis Club. He also had a wonderful love of music and played the guitar. Most recently he had embarked on the pathway to be a sports coach, becoming a Young Leader in Cricket with
Tom died in his sleep on Friday, October 5, 2007. He was 14. Unusually, he had felt unwell and been diagnosed with a virus the day before. I checked on him in the morning, glad he’d been catching up on his rest. I knew straight away that we’d lost him but I tried to save him.
5th December 1977, David Paul Staff entered this world and made our lives truly happy and at that time the happiest day of our lives. As years passed, everyone who came into contact with him grew to like him, he hadn’t a malicious, vindictive bone in his body. He was a really lovely person to be
Anthony was born on the 16th of August 1986, and died on the 20th of September 2006. As a boy, Anthony was always smiling and was very quiet. He did well at school, never got into any trouble, got on with his work and always did his homework on time. At home you very rarely saw
Thursday 19th April 2007 will be a day that we as a family will remember forever. April 19th every year is special anyway as it is my wife’s birthday. Our daughter Sarah (age 20), who worked in a care home, was on late shift that day and as a result we had celebrated my wife’s birthday
Known affectionately as Tim, he was taken from us so suddenly, and is now laid to rest with his mum Kate. Tim was a very active person who lived life 24/7. He worked hard and played hard and was a fanatical football player, who was a dedicated Chelsea fan. His life revolved around football and his
On the 24th May 2008 our precious, kind, loving, gentle son Matthew died suddenly in his sleep, he was 29 years old. Matthew had travelled down to London with his life long friend Eddie to attend the wedding of his friend Jon to Pam. Matthew had met Jon when they were both students at Northampton
James seemed to be a fit and health young man. He lived at home, was a music student, and was twenty one years of age when in November 2001 he suddenly dropped dead outside the house. What made his death so baffling was that earlier that year on a family holiday to the Lake District he
BETWEEN THOSE SMILES The look of mischief The smile disguising the next naughty move The unread tale: Books, cuddles…. too boring! You understood: life was for living, exploring. You rushed at life, running first, never walking. Your early philosophy: To cram as much into each day as possible. Always be busy, investigating and — should being
On October 29th 2010 our beloved son Lyndon Cook went to bed and didn’t wake up; he was only 29 years old. He died from a heart attack caused by Coronary Heart Disease that he never knew he had. He was a healthy young man who ate healthily and rarely drank alcohol. He was so proud
Eulogy I am so proud to be standing here amongst you as Michael’s Dad, to celebrate with you all his tragically short life. Michael – who “loved to live and lived to love”. A giant of a man, literally and physically, who at only 19 was someone so giving, so considerate and so hard working. He
On Saturday, September 18th 1999 my life changed forever. I received a phone call to come immediately to Coleraine Hospital. When I arrived I was met by the doctor who told me that my youngest son Aaron was dead. Aaron had left home for work at 5am. He returned at 10am and then went to play
31st January 1985 – 17th September 2005 Jonathan was coming to the end of his first year as a trainee surveyor at the commercial property consultants King Sturge in Leeds, and without doubt had a bright future. He loved the job and the people with whom he worked. He was a talented sportsman but his main
Whenever I think back to Friday 20th June 2003 – which is still most days – I remember the clear blue sky and warm sunshine, and recall thinking “how could such a tragedy strike in a moment on such a lovely summer’s day?” Laura was 21 years and 6 months old. The detail seems important. She
My name is Murdo Macleod and I live in the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Andrew Macleod, my son, was born in April 1990 and became the focus and purpose of the lives of my wife, Dolina and I. We were not blessed with any other children, but we considered ourselves fortunate to
David died on 30th December 2011. He was 23. For two days before, we had been together as a family playing Pictionary in the lounge and enjoying being together. We have the usual photos and mobile phone footage of people being silly and enjoying themselves. Actually, these are so helpful now to look back on with
Our wonderful son and angel Kyle went to sleep on the 16th of October 2011 and never woke up again, aged 18, exactly 6 months after his 18th Birthday. Kyle was born on the 17th of April 1993. We live in the village of Bradwell in the Hope Valley, in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire.
In June 2010 my wife Ita and myself celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a long weekend in the beautiful City of Rome. While there we reflected on how sweet our life was and how fortunate we were to have three lovely children in Claire (19), Owen (16) and Sarah (15). However in the weekend following
My name is Ian Broughton and I live in a small town called Beith in Ayrshire. I’m married to Irene, have three children, Siobhan, Scott and Steffani and a granddaughter called Taylor. CRY came into our lives following the death of our 17 year old daughter Steffani. She died in her sleep on the 2nd September
Our beautiful daughter Charlene Page was born on the 29th September 1985, and passed away on the 6th July 2005 from SADS. Charlene had always appeared fit and healthy, and had always kept in good health. She had no symptoms to alert us that anything was wrong. She was a very lively kid and made friends