Seth had a lovely relationship with my dad. Both my mum and dad loved Seth and spent many hours looking after him, enabling me to go back to work. They visited his school, were proud grandparents at christmas plays and were well known to his class. They called themselves 'Gramps' and 'Grumps' and in return Seth was always happy to be driving up to their house or hear their voices. On entering their house he would always look around the living room, showing interest at the pictures hanging on the walls. This was at a time when Seth didn't often respond to people or look up at all.
Then my dad was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer, along with parkinsons disease. And their lives became consumed with appointments, operations and then chemotherapy. My dad didn't have the energy and ability to do so much with Seth and my mum was busy caring for my dad. Not that they weren't still in his life but they could no longer have such a hands on role with a growing disabled boy.
The liver cancer was too vigorous and my dad succumed to it two years ago. It's front of my mind at the moment because we've just passed the anniversary but also a friend of mine has just lost her dad.
At the time I tried to explain to Seth that he wouldn't be seeing Grumps anymore and it saddened me that he would no longer have him in his life. But it saddened me more that, whilst he enjoyed spending time with Grumps and had a special connection with him, I had no idea how much he would be aware of his absence. I still have no idea - but he still enjoys seeing my mum and she still loves spending time with her grandson.
My mum collected money at my dad's funeral and donated it to Seth's school. This modest sum was dropped into a much larger pot that paid for an extension and sensory room. I can't help but wish that 'Grumps' had been painted in small letters somewhere in the room as a lasting reminder of a devoted grandad.
Then my dad was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer, along with parkinsons disease. And their lives became consumed with appointments, operations and then chemotherapy. My dad didn't have the energy and ability to do so much with Seth and my mum was busy caring for my dad. Not that they weren't still in his life but they could no longer have such a hands on role with a growing disabled boy.
The liver cancer was too vigorous and my dad succumed to it two years ago. It's front of my mind at the moment because we've just passed the anniversary but also a friend of mine has just lost her dad.
At the time I tried to explain to Seth that he wouldn't be seeing Grumps anymore and it saddened me that he would no longer have him in his life. But it saddened me more that, whilst he enjoyed spending time with Grumps and had a special connection with him, I had no idea how much he would be aware of his absence. I still have no idea - but he still enjoys seeing my mum and she still loves spending time with her grandson.
My mum collected money at my dad's funeral and donated it to Seth's school. This modest sum was dropped into a much larger pot that paid for an extension and sensory room. I can't help but wish that 'Grumps' had been painted in small letters somewhere in the room as a lasting reminder of a devoted grandad.
