On how I’m coping with the loss of my dad…I’m doing okay, I have my good days and my bad days.
His health went downhill. My special person died because…
He had emphysema; he had it for a number of years from smoking.
Then two years ago it got worse.
September of last year he was told he had two months left to live and that he had stage one lung cancer.
Then on November 15th, 2014 he got phenomena, I went to see him on the 17th.
On the 19th I got home from work, and 20 minutes later he passed away.
My family and I and a lot of his rugby family gathered for a celebration of his life, it was hard, I’m doing ok.
It’s been hard, it was a tough day. It’s still fresh, my grieving process.
I have my good days and my bad days. I like to be near friends and get hugs.
Sometimes I get:,Angry Frustrated
Because we were just starting to mend our relationship and I feel I never really got to say good-bye to him, and other people did.
I never got to see him at the hospital the day he passed away; I’m mad and angry about that.
His step-brother said it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to do that.
I wish that day they treated me like an adult.
Something that I’m good at and that I enjoy is:
Knitting
Reading
Working with animals
Travel
When I’m having a bad day I listen to music and I do some knitting.
I remember being told about my dad’s passing, I need love, and I still do.
My favourite memory:
When we were travelling in Asia our family went to see some turtles and some orangutans and my dad and I climbed Mt.
Kinabalu and we made it to the top.
I have friends I can talk to when I need someone to listen to me and my counsellor.
It’s been a year since my dad passed away, and it’s been a roller coaster of emotions.
For someone who has a diversability and losing a parent, it’s sometimes very challenging to express my feelings about it to someone who doesn’t have one.
But a lot of my friends have been very supportive.
By Sheenagh Morrison
