s.owens's blog

Rachel Smith, Co-founder of Lifefyle, talks about life admin and how organising your life not only lightens your mental load, but has the added benefit of being a comfort and help to your family in the event of your death.

The death of a pet is a very challenging event in a young child’s life and they need guidance from their teachers, parents or grandparents to help them make sense of this loss.  

Poems by Alice Willitts.
 

by Emma Clare

Dr Claire F Smith, Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Have you ever had one of those days where one phone call changes the pattern of the rest of your life?

That happened to me on 19^th December 2011 when I received a call from my Dad explaining that Mum was in severe pain. A few weeks later she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Then to add to that my Dad was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer in May.

 by Gemma Allen, Dying Matters Dudley/ The Mary Stevens Hospice

Why is talking about death and dying such an uncomfortable topic?

Why we are happy to share birth stories with near strangers, yet not speak openly about end of life wishes?

Is it the fear of upsetting others, or superstition of tempting fate?

Norwich School are welcoming pupils in Year 8, 9 and 10 across our region to take part in a creative writing project in partnership with Dying Matters. Young people are invited to produce a piece of writing as a response to the prompt “I Wish We’d Spoken Earlier”.

By Gary Andrews
 

I was an only child and both my parents died by the time I was 31. It was too soon to lose them but I grieved in the ‘normal’ way and life went on. A few years later I met and married Joy, the woman of my dreams: tall, funny, kind clever and beautiful - I had no idea what she saw in me (short, balding, 15 years older) but I was happy she obviously saw something! We had 2 gorgeous children and our own company. Life was pretty idyllic.

This blog post is written from an American perspective. If you or anyone you know are in the New York area, then East End Doula Care can provide support
 

by Susan Capurso