Losing my dad

I will never forget the phone call that day, it was a strange voice of someone I didn't recognize and they asked to speak to Ron (my now husband). I thought it was strange but went to find him and passed him the phone, I went back inside and he appeared, asking me to sit down. When he told me that my dad had just died I didn't really believe him but just went into a disbelief state where I knew I just needed to get to him. I picked up Sophie off the floor and we drove out to Mum and Dad's. I remember going past the ambulance station and thinking why is the ambulance not there? Not even imagining that it would be at Mum and Dad's house, but to arrive and see my dad lying there on the driveway made it all become so real.

It has made me appreciate my family and how wonderful my Mum is and what she had to go through losing her best friend, but she was so strong and I am so proud of her. Me, I felt so lost and I felt like a little kid again that had just had her whole world turned upside down. What got me through was my daughter and my niece and nephew, they were all around 6 to 9 months and they were such a happy distraction from the sadness and the support from my Mum and my husband.

Keep your family close, you never know when you are going to lose one of them and to never see or talk or hug them again is the hardest thing. That’s why my family is what matters most to me, making fantastic memories with my family and making the most of the time we have. I am so proud of my children and the close bond we have.