8 years… 8 years without my beautiful blonde haired, long legged little boy; Jack William Goodway…

Does it get any easier? Yes.  

Does the pain ever go away? No. 

Do I wish he was here? Every single day. 

Can I close my eyes and go back to that dreaded day on 27th July 2014 where my world fell apart? In an instant, it still feels like yesterday and the tears still roll down my face, and my heart still physically aches.

How did I survive this? I don’t quite know. 

Does it still feel like a bad dream? Yes. 

Do I still see him when I close my eyes? Yes, every single day.

Jack William Goodway, my beautiful boy turns 8 today. What would he look like? Would he still have his long legs like his big sister Nell? Would he still have that cheeky face like his little brother Archie? What would he like doing? What would his Year 3 school report say? Would he be prepared for Year 4 in September? What toys would he play with? Would he make me proud?

Jack, you melt my heart every single day. I am so grateful to you for the journey you have taken me on, you changed my life in so many ways and you make so grateful for so many things.

How can I write all of these things in a ‘safe’ way? How can I talk about you every day? How can I keep your memory alive? 

I have a very simple answer to that, and it is simply Edward’s Trust. My special, happy place that supports children, young people and families facing loss and surviving bereavement. I am lucky enough to be the Engagement Manager at Edward’s Trust and we help families to reinvest in life again, I am most definitely a survivor of child loss and it is thanks to Edward’s Trust that I can say that.

So, after a very challenging 2 years of the Covid Pandemic, I have decided to celebrate my little boys 8th Birthday this year by taking on my biggest challenge yet… Yes, I am ‘Jumping For Jack’ from an aeroplane!!! Am I mad? Yes! Am I scared to death? Very!! Does my little boy deserve his 8th Birthday to be celebrated in this way? Absolutely!

If you can pay tribute to my little boy and help me to continue to help other bereaved families then please support my Sky Dive, taking place on Sunday 25th September. I feel very lucky for all the help and support I get from family, friends, colleagues, netballers… not all families are that lucky. Bereavement can be a very lonely place, please help me to help them smile again, never forgetting that special person who is sadly no longer with us.

Always remember them, talk about them and put their name in flashing lights, they are part of your journey!

From the bottom of my heart… THANK YOU!
#FlyingTheKite for Edward’s Trust.
#JumpingForJack

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