Author: thesheisproject

I am the youngest child in a family of two girls. I have always had a great relationship with my family but my parents did not have a happy marriage and lived almost separate lives. My dad was a hardworking provider for our family and a caring dad but he was also an alcoholic with no interest in church. My mum however was a committed and devoted woman of God and made sure that church …

Growing up was hard, but good. We lived just above the poverty line, but we made it work. I had dogs, a yard and a fun childhood. I had very good, loving parents. But, when I think back to this time, I think mostly of my mom. My childhood memories of her are as a hurting, torn up woman, struggling to keep it all together. She had lost a baby boy, her husband was always …

I saw her every day. Occasionally, we would acknowledge one another; a brief nod, a half smile and a little wave but no real conversation. There was so much I wanted to ask her but, for weeks, I struggled to even find the confidence to approach her and say ‘hello’. Mind you, we both had plenty to occupy our time. Both of our children had cancer and were long-term residents of the children’s oncology ward …