I wrote this poem on 20th March 2003, Allan's nineteenth birthday, just over a year before he died.  None of us knew he was already suffering from the beginnings of kidney failure, or that he had an undetected heart problem.  He'd fought the cerebral palsy and ill-health all his life but we were full of optimism for the future....

WHAT CAN I GIVE?

Another milestone for my special son,
He turns nineteen today.
So many battles he has won
In a life so full of pain.

So what to do, what to give
This child so dear to me?
All I want is for him to live
A life that's happy and free.

I'll give him everything I can
But I can't give him the joy,
The freedom, of becoming a man
When he's locked in the world of a boy.

But he'll win through, he'll be alright,
His day is going to come,
He's got the spirit, he's got the fight
He inherited that from his Mum

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the following pages are more poems, some written by me, some sent by friends and some anonymous.
All of them demonstrate my love for Allan and the enormity of my grief, feelings mirrored by bereaved parents everywhere.
If you're the author of any of these verses and would like to be accredited or to have them removed, please contact me.

Val x