A story of tragedy and cancer

I am raising funds for my children to be able to remain in their family home; something which we are at risk of losing, after having lost so much already.

In 2013 my son Zayn died suddenly at the age of 12, after contracting sepsis. The trauma of this loss was almost too much to bear but I had three other children to live for which meant I had to live each day as it presented itself to me, desperately trying to move on but whilst only wanting to immerse myself in his memories and stay static in time. I wanted to cry, to grieve, to breakdown but I couldn’t. I had to stay strong for my family and show them that life was still worth living, even without Zayn with us.

Not long after my son’s death my marriage broke down and my husband left the family home. Me and my children became financially insecure and we were still devastated by our loss of Zayn. Our world had changed beyond recognition in a matter of months.

Unbelievably we had more tragedy to endure. In August 2015 my eldest Daughter Jasmine was diagnosed with Leukaemia. “Why is this happening to us”? I’d often question. Jasmine is undergoing chemotherapy treatment that will last at least two years. It is intense, gruelling and has changed her life forever. She has not been able to attend school since September 2015 and needs help with all aspects of her care.

We are now at risk of losing our family home. The only home my children have ever known. Other than myself, the only constant and stable factor that has remained in their precious lives since our world turned upside down in 2013 and has been in freefall ever since. The home where they have a physical connection to their brother Zayn; where they have memories each time they look out into the garden and can visualise him working under the tree, smiling and having fun. Where they can walk to school, have conversations with their neighbours and above all else feel safe and secure. Moving Jasmine at this time is my most significant concern. Her health is so fragile that a move this big I am worried will cause her to deteriorate.

Throughout all of these tragic events that have thrown themselves upon us, I have remained steadfastly determined that I will continue to provide for my children; that their well-being is paramount to me. I am not prepared to have endured so much, to have fought so hard and to have remained so determined that I will give up and allow our last remnant of familiarity to disappear.

Raising 5,000 will mean that my children’s future in their home is secure