A moment that changed me: the third time I was told my mother was dying | Isabel Wright

The very idea seemed inconceivable. And the first two times, using nothing more than good behaviour and magical thinking, we stopped it

I had recently started primary school when I was told my mother was going to die. Prepare for the worst, someone said. Hardly anyone knew at school. A friend was baffled when I was given an unexplained hug by a teacher. It seemed inconceivable that my funny, feisty, feminist mother could die, that a sinkhole could open under my life like that.

I decided there must be some prayer, magic spell or extremely good behaviour that would hold off the dark. And then, through the wonder of modern cancer treatment, the brilliant NHS and a good measure of sheer bloody-mindedness, hold off the dark she did.

Related: A moment that changed me: dressing as a woman for the first time at 69 | Robin Pickering

One day she asked a nurse to help her get dressed in the mother of the bride outfit she’d bought for my wedding

Continue reading... December 08, 2017 at 01:30PM