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National Bereaved Parents Day 2023

Andrew, Anne and David

"I’ve read a lot of poetry and Donna Ashworth’s work resonates with my feelings. I also submitted a poem about Dude in the TCF poetry book (Forget-Me-Not-Poems) as a way of expressing our grief. The medium of poetry can be an avenue of expression that is not available through other forms of communication".

I communicated daily for months with Dave’s sisters, his partner Ellie who moved in with us the first two months, and we continue to support each other and share all of our fond memories of time with Dave.

Close friends have been wonderful, and I would advise staying close to those that are staying close with the changed you.

I would never have accessed this amazing group (TCF) but for lockdown and the restrictions this placed on our usual support network. In the January 2021 I made contact with the local representative, Mandy, and a friendship was born.

I would like to finish with a poem Katie Dave’s youngest sister wrote on what would have been Dave’s 28th birthday

Think of me:

Think of me eternal, a wise and loving spirit, a guide to lead you, holding your hands on days like today just as you held mine through the years.

My voice is your voice, I have gone nowhere, beside you every day but beyond life’s turmoil.

Remember me the child, a prankster and collector, the long-haired teen headphones on and head in the fridge.

Political agitator in adulthood, an artist in wit, schooling you and the world in my message.

So today and always let the love we share sustain you, allow yourself to laugh and cry and think of us, eternal.

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