For our supporters who share our stories with their children, please note that this week's story covers some sensitive topics.
This week, we’d like to do something for a mother and son going through an incredibly difficult time.
Anne is a single mum to Jamie (14) and William (7). In September of last year, Jamie sadly took his own life.
Anne and William are devastated. It’s difficult for William to understand that his big brother is never coming home, and Anne is trying to care for William while coming to terms with everything that’s happened. She said Jamie was a happy, confident boy, who had never suffered from any mental health issues, so losing him in this way was a shock.
On top of all of this, they are struggling financially. Anne has Chrone’s disease, an autoimmune disease called Lupus, as well as arthritis. She isn’t able to work and has flare ups of extreme pain.
Jamie used to help look after William when his mum was unwell. Since his big brother’s death, William has been having a lot of anxiety. He doesn’t like to leave his mum's side and hasn’t wanted to sleep in his room, as it reminds him too much of Jamie.
Anne was nominated by a friend, who told us Anne has been wanting to create a new bedroom for William but doesn’t have the funds to be able to do it for him. We would love to help.
We also found out that Anne’s main passion in life is sewing and crafts. It has always been her form of therapy and over the years it has helped her to deal with being unwell. Since money has become tighter, her hobby was the first thing she sacrificed - the cost of fabric and materials was just too much. With your help, we’d love to get Anne sewing again.
(If anyone would like to follow Anne’s story, she is about to share a new blog - www.foreveramumoftwo.co.uk)