How do I grieve

Hi I lost my mum three weeks ago, she was 60 she had oesophageal cancer, she fought for so long and so hard but she couldn't carry on, she had a terminal hemorage in the end which was horrific, my dad was there when it happened and called the ambulance, I had a call from my sister saying it's mum there's a lot of blood dads panicking so I tried to get there as quickly as I could within minutes she called me back saying I think she's gone so I said it's ok I'm on my way, I drove so fast I can't even remember how I got to the house when I arrived the paramedics where there, I looked at one of them and said she's gone hasn't she? To which he nodded and I knew it happened so quick and I went into carer mode I have my dad a hug whilst looking at my mum slumped in the chair , I ended up cleaning up and making sure my dad and sister didn't see my mum like that, when my sister arrived mum was in bed and I was finishing washing her face, the rest is a blur to be honest, we arranged the funeral, visited her in the chapel of rest then the funeral, my son was with me and was in pieces my dad was the other side of me in pieces, I didn't cry all I could hear was my mums voice in my head saying don't you cry don't you dare cry, so I didn't and haven't cried, I can't sleep without seeing my mum I feel numb empty and completely lost, it was so unfair for her to go like that I didn't say goodbye properly or even have a conversation with her when she was coherent and now I'm stuck in limbo with grief, I can't talk to my dad as I don't want to pile this on him and my sister the same so please someone give me some advice 

Parents
  • I am so so sorry to read your post and for the loss of your Mum. I lost my Mum to covid pneumonia 2 weeks ago and she had incureable lung cancer. I was her carer for 3 years from when she had kidney cancer which was sucessfully removed. The last few weeks if her life she was so unwell, I had to call the GP surgery daily and no one visited, in the end I contacted the paramedics and she was admitted to hospital the last week of her life. What I witnessed in her last few days has haunted me. Her suffering and fear of dying, it brings me so much sadness because she was so brave and courageous. I have no children and have lived with my Mum and partner for 8 years, prior to this we lived and worked together for nearly 10 years on and off, she would go back to her home and within a few weeks be back again. We were best friends and mother/daughter. I simply do not know how to continue without her so I absolutely understand where you are coming from.

    Know that you did everything possible for your Mum and you are wonderful for being such a great support to your family now. Please also take time for yourself, please cry if you need to. I also didn't cry in front of my Mum in her last weeks because I knew if she saw me crying she would know something seriously was wrong and I wanted to give her hope. I feel numb at times and others I am just devastated with grief.

    There is just so much to process, the memories, the memories of her last few weeks, her illness, her passing, life without her. Grief is neverending. I am hearing my Mum's voice in my mind all the time and I believe it is her because her anwers to me are sudden without time for me to think and they are exactly as she would talk to me so I believe you are also hearing your Mum. 

    Take each day slowly, don't try to be strong if you can't. Reach out to your family and also allow them to support you too.

    We are hear if you need to talk.

    Jane

Reply
  • I am so so sorry to read your post and for the loss of your Mum. I lost my Mum to covid pneumonia 2 weeks ago and she had incureable lung cancer. I was her carer for 3 years from when she had kidney cancer which was sucessfully removed. The last few weeks if her life she was so unwell, I had to call the GP surgery daily and no one visited, in the end I contacted the paramedics and she was admitted to hospital the last week of her life. What I witnessed in her last few days has haunted me. Her suffering and fear of dying, it brings me so much sadness because she was so brave and courageous. I have no children and have lived with my Mum and partner for 8 years, prior to this we lived and worked together for nearly 10 years on and off, she would go back to her home and within a few weeks be back again. We were best friends and mother/daughter. I simply do not know how to continue without her so I absolutely understand where you are coming from.

    Know that you did everything possible for your Mum and you are wonderful for being such a great support to your family now. Please also take time for yourself, please cry if you need to. I also didn't cry in front of my Mum in her last weeks because I knew if she saw me crying she would know something seriously was wrong and I wanted to give her hope. I feel numb at times and others I am just devastated with grief.

    There is just so much to process, the memories, the memories of her last few weeks, her illness, her passing, life without her. Grief is neverending. I am hearing my Mum's voice in my mind all the time and I believe it is her because her anwers to me are sudden without time for me to think and they are exactly as she would talk to me so I believe you are also hearing your Mum. 

    Take each day slowly, don't try to be strong if you can't. Reach out to your family and also allow them to support you too.

    We are hear if you need to talk.

    Jane

Children
  • I'm so sorry for your loss, you have been through it aswell it just feels so surreal at times I can't seem to process everything, your words have brought some comfort to me to know that someone else feels the same way and that it's not wrong to feel like I do, I know it will come in time but it's hard at the moment x