Compassion Magazine Winter 2022

Winter 2022 - Compassion | www.tcf.org.uk 8 stages of the grief journey is at the very heart of what goes on at every support meeting. This time it just happened to come about because I had told my story about a recent Fabian event. I, as a bereaved parent, who is 8 years along was able to tell a fellow bereaved parent who was in the early stages of grief that for me Fabian’s birthdays were now filled more with joy than with pain and sorrow. I understand and remember all too well that when you are at the early stages of your grief it is very hard to believe or comprehend that the joy could overtake the pain. But I have realised that does not mean that it is not helpful for any bereaved parent to hear those things, to see and hear the grief journeys of other parents and siblings and to see that there has been a change for those further down the grief road. We do not have the same grief journey; we do not have the same timetable, but we all have changes that happened to us along the way as we carry our dear children and siblings with us. And what is the most important thing about this exchange that took place last week? Again, for me it is simply the fact that this type of exchange can and does happen at so many support groups around the UK. They provide a place for us as bereaved parents and siblings to talk about everything and anything we want in respect of our children and siblings in a safe and non- judgmental haven. They remain at the very heart of our Charity. As my time as Chair of Trustees comes to an end, I look back at the last three years and am very proud that we have achieved so very much over these three years in keeping the charity going and in increasing its reach. I could list all our achievements, but you can read all of those in our annual report. What I would like to say is that the most important achievement and the real success of the last 3 years is that the very soul of the charity has remained the same, namely one of compassion. It is a compassionate charity full of compassion and compassionate individuals. And so, it remains for me to thank all my fellow trustees for the support and hard work over the last three years and equal thanks to our wonderful executive and staff. I send my successor my very best wishes for the next three years. And to all of you, you make the charity what it is, and I send you my heartfelt love and warmest wishes. Andrew Miller, Fabian’s Dad #OnlyLove