Struggling with the loss of my mum

In 2015 my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer, we were told she had a few weeks to live, this was 2 weeks before my due date with my second child. At the time i lived far away so i moved in with my mum to be her carer. She had chemo and the tumours shrunk! We became so close over that time, we did everything together and when my relationship broke down due to the stress of the situation, we only had each other. My kids were so close to their nan too. 18 months in my mum passed away, the cancer had spread to her brain. I was her only carer and next of kin so i had to do the majority of arrangements then clear her house and move back to my own rented property hundreds of miles away that i had been unable to pay for whilst living away because i lost my job when my maternity leave ended during my time away as my mums carer. I spent all my savings on days out and getting by so when i came back i had nothing, i would happily do it all again. i spent the past year and a half building things back up but i just feel hopeless. I need to hear my mums voice and see her face i need my children to know her. I just keep thinking it must be a bad dream that it can't be real because i need her. I can't imagine the rest of my life feeling like this, i feel so low and desperate. Everything hurts. I think mothers day coming is just salt in the wound right now

  • Hello caz91.  Welcome to this forum.  I think all of us who have lost our mums feel at least a pang on Mothers Day no matter how long ago the loss occurred.  I also think there comes a point when you have spent your time being busy to firstly help your mum and then taking care of all the things that result from a death that we suddenly feel "Oh my goodness, what now" and the answer is nothing.  You are fully facing what the loss means.  While keeping busy taking the necessary action to deal with the things that were your mum's life you are to an extent running on nerves and adrenaline but that has now run out and serious grief sets in.  I am attaching some information from this website which talks at length about grief and how much it can vary from person to person.

    www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../coping-with-grief

    You may find it helpful to talk to someone who will understand what you are going through.  Cruse Bereavement Care are a good charity who understand grief .  I think there may be a high demand for their services and I have asked them to let me know how they are coping and what is the best thing to advise people who would like to access their services but they haven't got back to me yet.  You can ring them on Freefone 0808 808 1677 and ask them about having someone to talk to you about your feelings.  You could also ring MacMillan Cancer Support (Freefone 0808 808 0000) who I understand are very helpful to anyone who has been affected by cancer, whether personally or as a carer for a cancer patient.

    After many years I still have photos of my mum and dad - my dad died some years ago also, not from cancer - around my living room and talk (sometimes in my head, sometimes out loud) to one or both of them.  Not long conversations you understand but just things I want to mention.  The point is to do what makes you feel a bit better.  When I was younger my mum often showed me family photos and talked about the people in them so I still feel as though I knew them when in the flesh I had not known them so very well.  Keep your mum's memory alive with your children in that way if it helps you all.  Best wishes.  Annie