One of the things that I loved about our Bristol experience was the peer support.
Although Leah was only 15, she was cared for in adult services here in Ireland. Usually when she attended appointments here, the other patients we met were older than me.
In Bristol, Leah was cared for in paediatric services that catered for young people up to the age of 18. We also spent a lot of our time in the Clic Sargent Hostel, Sam’s House, that accommodated seventeen families and young people up to the age of 24.
That’s where we met Jack Jordan. There were three young adult men, all with a blood cancer, all staying in Sam’s House and attending the Oncology/Haematology Unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary – the three musketeers.
This was a different unit to where Leah received her treatment, but back in Sam’s House in the evening, I would hear them laughing and joking about their latest escapades.
Jack was the quietest of the three, but he enjoyed their companionship.
Leah used to worry about Jack because he was so quiet. Jack was so pleasant and well mannered, as were all three of the young men.
I have a lovely memory of Jack and his Nan having tea with Leah and me one evening in Sam’s House. Leah and I were so far from home and family that our friends in Sam’s House became our temporary family.
After Jack relapsed in December 2014, we started talking via Messenger. He said he could remember us trying to feed him pizzas and take-aways at Sam’s House. That made me laugh – that would have been Leah and me alright!
Then he said the most beautiful things regarding my daughter: “Leah was always nice to me and had a great smile! Made me feel welcome and a friend.”
What beautiful words for a young man who was ill, to say regarding another young person who had also been battling a life threatening illness. Jack’s words really blessed me – letting me know that my daughter’s kindness had touched his heart.
I know how much Leah had cared about each and every child and young person that she met during her illness and how each and every one was faithfully prayed for by name each day. This is an excerpt from her prayer diary:
Earlier this year, Jack was expecting to be going for a life-saving transplant and we continued to talk via messenger.
He’s such a gentleman, he invariably replied to my messages with something like
“Thank you for all of your prayers and kind words Vicky you have really helped me a lot”
I had left Bristol before Jack and Laura got together, but he told me how happy him and Laura were and how much he loved her:
“Laura is amazing I love her and am so happy we are engaged ❤️”
Then, on the 14th April, Jack sent me the saddest message of all:
“Hello Vicky. I just wanted to tell you my cancer has come back and there is nothing they can do for me now. I’m getting married on Thursday 😊 I just wanted to say thank you for all your care, support and love you’ve shown me x”
Despite the sadness, I was so excited that Jack and Laura were getting married. I would have absolutely loved to have been there. I poured over every wedding photograph, along with members of my family.
Then, on Monday 20th April, I received my last message from Jack: “I’m just tired all over vicky ❤️”
I knew what that meant, I could read between the lines.
Today, Jack’s wife Laura, her little girl Lily, his family and his friends, said farewell to somebody very dear, somebody whose passing will leave a gaping hole in the lives of those who were closest to him.
Even though I’m a nurse and at the time of Leah’s diagnosis, I was sharing an office with the Community Children’s Nursing team who look after children and young people with a cancer diagnosis, I had somehow thought that nowadays cancer in children/young people was almost 100% curable.
Well I certainly got that wrong – very wrong.
Yes, thankfully, very many children and young people do survive, but the treatment journey can be long and gruelling. Some are taken by the illness, while others, like our daughter, are taken by the side effects of their treatment.
Those of us who are left behind then begin a different journey – the painful road of loss, of grief and of mourning.
At first, those closest to the loved one, may have the edge taken off the intensity of their loss, by the numbing effects of busyness and exhaustion.
However, as days become weeks and weeks become months, the harsh reality sets in.
We have loved and we have lost.
Those who have loved much will grieve much, indeed grief is the price we pay for love.
Those of you who are parents of young children will no doubt be familiar with the popular story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
There are two lines in this story which, in my opinion, describe the process of grief very accurately:
“Can’t go around it
Gotta go right thru it “
No matter how painful grief is, unfortunately there’s no way round it, we’ve got to go through it.
The best we can hope for, is friends and family who will journey with us and a God who cares.
My Journey: 
This is very heartfelt words. A happy sad story. Thank you for sharing. You write through your pain and emotion so well.
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Thank you so much Stephen for your encouraging words – I have always found writing SO therapeutic. I’ve scribbled in notebooks since my early teens, at times of emotional distress, but I kept those writings very private.
It was in June 2013 on our way back from a hospital appointment in Belfast, that Leah set up a private Facebook page called ‘My Journey’ and made me a joint admin. She described it as “A wee group where we (me and Mummy) can keep you all updated with what’s happening.”
After Leah died, people asked me to keep writing and Facebook no longer seemed versatile enough. Until recently, every blog post that I wrote was my last post. I used to think “That’s it, there’s nothing more to write about.”
I’ve stopped thinking like that now, I just pray and ask God to help me to write words that will help other people too.
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Ur kind words about Jack have helped me so much… I’m still trying to ‘go right thru it’ but struggling to believe that my brave strong bear is no longer here.
I know u feel my pain … Leah was very special to Jack. Everyone he met, he touched.
I’m struggling with why Jack although Jacks attitude was ‘ I just drew the short straw mum’ he always was so accepting. He fought long and hard but God called his name… His wings were ready…. My heart was not 💔
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Oh Sonia, My heart breaks for you and your enormous loss of such a lovely gentle quiet boy. Our hearts could never be ready to part with our children and we will always yearn for them, but this month will be especially difficult for all of you. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thank you so much for your kindness. Sadly I’m too now battling cancer but I read ur daughters prayer often. It gets me every time but I find myself drawing upon Leah and Jacks strength , courage and hope to ‘go right thru it’
I hope all is well with yourself and family.
Much love x
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Oh Sonia, I’m terribly sorry to hear that you are now battling cancer yourself. This must be very distressing for you and all the family. You will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers. ❤️
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