Biff's Battle- Grace Kelly Ladybird Trust

                                                                 Emma and Herbie- 2018                                                                        Killerton House 2017                                                                     Killerton House 2018                                                                                   2018                                              Lighting a candle- remembering Elizabeth Christmas 2018 Missing Elizabeth like mad.   Over the last couple of months we have raised lots of money for Biff's Battle and have started to make plans for next year.  A coffee morning and cake sale after school and also  hoping to camp outside Tesco, Seaton for a morning. Over the last month I have had Elizabeth's medical notes sent through and imaging.  It seems like a distant memory, almost like it wasn't us.  Maybe it is our brains way of being able to function.  There have been times when I have thought about it all

October 2018 This month has gone by so quickly.   The 6-month anniversary was so difficult.   I can’t understand why this one was any worse than the others.   I suppose before if you kept busy you could almost trick yourself into thinking that she was in hospital and James was with her as we had done many times before.   After 6 months the realisation sets in that you will not see her again and you begin to realise how much you really miss her and long to hold and cuddle her again.   Every night I sit and look through the beautiful photos and videos we have of her.   Even though we still laugh as a family we always have that feeling that something is missing.   I find myself finding little things making me cry.   I miss the point before bed where Elizabeth loved watching tractor videos on the television! I miss the morning when she would sit and play farms while we were getting ready for school.   I miss going in to get her in the morning or from a nap.   I miss seeing her in th

September 2018 What a busy month! We hit the 5-month anniversary a few days ago.   Certainly, doesn’t get any easier.   I wonder if she would be walking now? I think she would be crawling.   Back to work keeps me busy for a couple of days and then the remaining week is taken up with a few charity bits, housework and a day to spend with Johnny! We also have had a visit from the hospice nurses which was lovely.   We could show them what we had been up to over the last few months and book in a stay at the hospice to revisit, plus a remembering day which we are very much looking forward to.   It is my main aim to keep talking about Elizabeth and keep her memory alive. Ella also turned 9, I can’t believe where the time is going!   I could tell she loved her family party, but I also knew she was missing Elizabeth that day.   She never says much but you can tell it is hard, we feel it too and love a family get together but there will always be someone missing now. Sep

Westward Ho, North Devon, Monday 26th April 2018 Sensory Room- April 2018 Saunton Sands- April 8th 2018 Easter Egg Hunt- 8th April 2018 Making cakes- 26th March 2018 Jacuzzi Elizabeth's room and Lucy Elizabeth and Daddy 4th April- at home for a few days Button Tractor Johnny 25th March 2018 Our stay in Little Bridge Hospice. On the 23 rd March 2018 the ambulance arrived at Exeter hospital to transport our CLIC nurse, Ali, Elizabeth and I to Little Bridge Hospice.   It was so emotional leaving Bramble and I was so scared at where we were going.   We had dragged our heels for so long about visiting the hospice.   We had a planned visit at the end of January 2018 but Elizabeth had become poorly the day before and so we had to postpone.   James had been busy on the farm and his Dad was having treatment for prostate cancer, we had also been very nervous about going and we were not sure if we could psych ourselves for goi

School Cup for Community fundraising  Richards Wish Family Fun Day James and I (pre speech!) Pimms and my a few of my lovely friends Vintage Stitch Raising money for CLIC since before Christmas with the Betsy Owl. So far has raised hundreds of pounds. Face Painting Family and friends James, Lucy and I Fundraising. From our first week in Exeter where I met our CLIC social worker, I knew fundraising would be a big part of our journey.    My friends had organised a cake sale which had raised over £3000 and had also signed up to do the commando challenge.   When our CLIC social worker mentioned a named fund, I set this up for CLIC.   It was nice to be able to add gorgeous photographs and updates on Elizabeth’s treatment.   It also passed the time while in hospital.   To date Elizabeth has raised £5075.   We have kept it has a fund in her memory so that people can choose which charity to give to. I hope to do events to ma

Harvey Hext Trust- Memory boxes and memory bears Bereaved siblings. When Elizabeth became poorly last May (2017) we were very honest with the children upon diagnosis.   We told them the tumour had been removed but that she would intensive chemotherapy.   We also made them aware that the doctors would do everything they could to make Elizabeth better but that she may not be cured, and the cancer might come back.   We also discussed how the chemotherapy would make her very poorly and it would mean I would be spending a lot of time in hospital.   Ella understood the most I think, and all the children understood to a certain point, they were also very concerned and always commented on how brave she was! The children particularly hated her daily injections (GCSF) in between chemotherapy to help bring her blood counts back up ready for the next dose of chemotherapy.   Elizabeth always cried, and I usually had a little panic before I gave it! However, Elizabeth always stopped cryi