This past week was midterm so we went over to the UK to visit my three sisters and respective families for the first weekend. The weekend didn’t end up going quite according to plan though as we spent 20 hours in A&E and the paediatric ward of their local hospital with Rebecca (who is 12).
She hadn’t been feeling well for the few weeks before, mostly colds, sore throat and a cough but nothing serious. However on the day we arrived in the UK, I noticed she developed Impetigo on her face and later that night she woke up at 3am in agony with a very sore throat and a temperature.
If you know much about my family history over the past two years, you will know that my sister lost her 8 year old boy to a strep throat infection that went undiagnosed.
Our visits to my sister always fill me with slight anxiety as we reopen old wounds and feelings, as we see his photos around their home and mostly feel his absence from their family life.
However, this time an unexpected visit to the same hospital Oli had spent the beginning of his final days with one of our own children, who also had a sore throat, was a terrible revisiting of past events for all of us, but especially for my sister and her husband.
I realise though how the outcome for us was so different. After a long day we were finally discharged with antibiotics and a referral note for further blood tests back home at our own GP. It seems that Rebecca has a low clotting factor and needs her liver function tested again. We are not quite out of the woods and I am filled with gratitude that I can hold every one of my four children in my arms for one more day.
The day after our visit to the hospital my sister brought me and my other two sisters to a glass artist and this piece you see below is what I made. I wanted to create something that would reflect the light and which could be hung up in front of a window or a candle. I used tiny pieces of broken coloured glass at the bottom and placed silver glitter pieces in the centre.
However, most significantly, at the very top of the piece you will notice light grey speckles – those are a tiny fragment of Oli’s ashes. This is the only concrete piece of Oli that I have left to hold and I feel my sister was very generous in allowing us to share in a part of her precious son. It will be placed in a window so that my children and my husband and I can all be reminded of the precious and vibrant little boy whom we loved and miss so much.
Life is so fragile, at times so painful and yet we cling to the beauty.
This is a beautiful piece !! It must have been so.hard being back in the same hospital with your own child. Your glass work is so pretty what a lovely way to remember someone
Thank you Kelly, it was hard and we were scared at times. The glass making is a wonderful idea, you can also have glass beads and other pieces of jewellery made.
Thanks for beautiful post which made me cry. I wonder can tears be captured in glass art! I know God says he stores up our tears in a bottle…
Thank you Johanna, I believe He does and that He has had to reserve one of the very largest bottles for me! It’s a comfort knowing that none of our sorrows go unobserved or unrecorded by Him. xxx
I did not already know about your sister and her precious boy, what a truly sad experience for you all and how scary to be back in the same hospital with your own daughter. I hope Rebecca is feeling better very soon. Your glass work is beautiful and poignant. xx
Thank you Anne, it really was such a shocking thing at the time and the ripples of grief continue to extend out. Every parent fears this the most! They continue to be very brave in spite of everything though.
Yes, you have really referenced every parent’s greatest nightmare … and so traumatic that you all had to go through this episode Liberty. The glass piece is so poignant and such a great thing to have. #GlobalBlogging
It certainly is a very special reminder.
What a beautiful thing to do, really love it – and your artwork is stunning – just love the idea. thank you for sharing
You’re welcome and thank you for your kind comments. Xx
What a lovely piece of art work. I literally can’t stop looking at it x
How beautiful that it contains a little soul
Thank you for your lovely words. 💓
Liberty what a traumatic experience for you all and particularly with the memory of your nephew’s sad passing. I hope you have some success in finding a way to manage your daughter’s condition and she starts to feel better in herself. I love the glass, a beautifully crafted piece and hanging it where you can all see it and remember is a wonderful idea. Thanks for the challenge – I will be picking up the mantle in a quiet moment this week. X
Thank you Jo and I’m glad you’re taking up the challenge, looking forward to reading what you’ve written.
How terrible for you and your family. The glass is beautiful and it is an honour that you chose to share it with us. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
Thank you for your kind comments. It will be a very treasured piece to remember him by.
How very worrying for you all and I hope your daughter is feeling better now. What a beautiful glass piece and how lovely that you were able to include some specks of Oli’s ashes.
The 20 minute challenge is also a great challenge and one that would test your writing skills and thought process.
Thank you Lucy, she seems to be recovered, just need another follow up visit to the GP in 6 weeks. The challenge was a good one, a bit like squeezing a lemon!!