We all have days which don’t exactly go to plan. Sometimes they begin to go wrong very shortly after our alarms go off, or for those of you with young children, long before our alarms go off. During the day we look at the clock, as the hours pass painfully slowly, and we wonder how we will get through.
We all have different definitions of a bad day. For some it is a sick, crying baby or young child, for others rainy day traffic and a difficult boss, perhaps deadlines are looming and all is not going according to plan, or maybe you are drowning in financial debt or feeling alone due to relationship difficulties.
Yesterday I was walking with my friend, Daniels mum. Along the way I asked her about her weekend, during which she had traveled to Dublin to a memorial service for those children from Crumlin children’s hospital, who had lost their brave battles with illness in the past seventeen months. During the service they called out the names of each child.
Do you know how many children’s names were called out? Can you guess?
242 names, and that was only for children who attended Crumlin hospital.
Even though I have seen two families lose children in the past eighteen months (young Ben and Daniel) it shocked me to think of so many young lives lost over such a short period of time. Each child a much loved member of a family, with years of life ahead of them. Each had a story. Each left a family, who in some way every day, will grieve for them as long as they live.
Tonight I am thinking of my friend, and Daniels dad, siblings, godparents, aunts, uncles and friends, of Ben’s family and young Aoibheanns and the hole in their lives. As I do so I think back to my original question, “What sort of a day had you today?”
Maybe, on second thoughts, it wasn’t so bad after all?
photo credit: patries71 via photopin cc
photo credit: Werner Kunz via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
Hugs, SuperLass ❤
One hospital in one town in one county in one country. Think of the people everywhere Tric.
It’s incredible to think about it Coleen. We are a country of 4.5 million I can’t imagine how many a year are lost, and do you know they put very little into researching childhood cancer treatment because it doesn’t make financial sense as, relatively speaking, not enough children per year need it compared with adults.
I don’t know how they can say that, when that number alone, in one hospital in one town seems staggering to me. Multiply that by the numbers in every hospital in every town in every county/country. Who doesn’t know a family impacted by childhood cancer?
Daniel’s family must miss him terribly.
Kids don’t vote is why they may not get the needed money for research. It’s that way for a lot of medical issues. An old surgeon of mine lost his only daughter in a ski accident because the equipment was too large for her – she died because she was small. That surgeon, Dr. Norman B. San Agustin, advocated until equipment to save lives also fit children.
Nothing hurts like losing a child.
It’s a pain I could never imagine, and the forever part of loss is sickening. It is only since Daniel died that I have taken any notice of the many calls for research funding for childhood cancer. Losing Dan has opened my ears.
That surgeon was amazing to take that fight on despite his grief. Imagine the lives he has saved.
Your posts really make me appreciate everything I have and realise that even when I do have a bad day it could always be worse so I need to buck up, chin up and think it wasn’t so bad after all xx
Yes I often say that since Danny life has changed forever, but not all bad. I appreciate every moment and enjoy my kids (despite the less good days), as I go to bed each night I smile and feel so lucky to have had the day I’ve had.
It is so sad that so many children are lost, from cancer or other illnesses..even due to their parent’s own hand. I don’t understand it, and am so thankful my children and grandchildren are all healthy (and sassy). You’re right. When having a bad day we need to remember that there are lots of people who are having a worse day. Thanks for making me think and be thankful.
Thanks Deb. I think for those like yourself who are grieving life is very difficult, but for those of us who, for now, are blessed to have our families still intact, we need to take time to appreciate what we have.
What Deb said but I will add that the bad day won’t be over at the end of the day for so many families. It will all begin again, tomorrow.
So very true Corina, and the rest of us living our own lives are often unaware of what others are going through.
A powerful post. For me it serves as a reminder not only to be grateful for days free of such terrible pain, but to be compassionate towards others and cherish the lives of all the little ones everywhere.
Thank you. I think we often have more understanding towards those who have children who are ill compared with those who have lost children, often expecting them to ‘move on’.
Like yourself I too am so grateful to have my four children well and happy at home with me.
In one of my pre-writing careers, I was a grief counselor. Grief looks different for each person, and one of the most unkind things people can do is deny someone his or her grief. We learn to live on, but the loss never goes away. That was my experience, anyway.
it really puts things in perspective. many hugs to all who have been touched by this horror.
Thank you, hugs to you who know what this feels like.
A shocking statistic. Makes you want to hug your child(ren) very, very tightly……
Agreed. I’ve been hugging them for two years now, ever since ‘that dreadful day’ when I heard the news about Daniel’s diagnosis.
I did not have a good day yesterday, but this reminded me to be thankful for what I do have xx
I am sorry you had a bad day yesterday. I hope today is a bit better. I know there is always someone worse off than ourselves, but hard days are difficult too. I’m glad this post helped a little. x