By Katy McNulty, whose mum died from bowel cancer in 2018
Katy McNulty and her family
At the beginning you are inundated with messages from friends, acquaintances and relatives. But a few weeks and months go by and you hear nothing. On the lonely days you wish for that simple message from a friend just asking how you are or how your day has been but it never arrives. People just don't know what to say.
Really trivial things that people complain about i.e. missing the bus or having a cold, are incredibly irritating. You have no patience for really small things people feel the need to moan about, because in reality they really don't matter. You wish people realised how lucky they are to be here.
It is incredibly difficult to hold it together, all day every day. Everyone reaches a breaking point. You can try to be positive, happy, be okay but sure enough you cannot do this all the time.
Speaking to people about the way you feel, missing someone, can make them feel awkward. They will never understand what you have been through.
Seeing your mum, someone you love with all your heart, suffer so much is the worst thing in the entire world.
About Katy McNulty
Katy is a 23 year old newly qualified maths teacher. On the 18th December 2018, Katy’s mum died suddenly from stage 4 bowel cancer - a very sudden and aggressive form of cancer that took over her body at the age of 51. Her mum was an incredibly positive lady, and Katy has tried to hold onto her inspiring attitude during difficult days. She’s spent the year since her mum’s death fundraising for various cancer charities by taking part in numerous charity events, raising over £6000 to date. You can follow Katy on Instagram.
