Have you ever experienced something so life-changing that it crushed you, shattered your world, and tore you apart, yet somehow, you emerged stronger and more resilient?
If you have, I applaud you. It takes incredible strength, courage, hope, self-discovery, and personal growth to reach that place. I’ve been there myself and it’s been quite a journey.
They say life-changing events come in threes. For me, they did.
1. The Loss That Broke My Heart
The first and most devastating was losing my first-born child, my seven-and-a-half-month-old baby girl, Catriona.
When she died, my heart broke into pieces. It felt as though my life had ended with hers. No parent should outlive their child it’s simply not how the world is meant to work.
I didn’t cope at first. It took years to process my grief and even longer to begin healing. But somehow, one breath, one tear, one day at a time, I got through it.
2. A Lifelong Diagnosis
My second life-changing moment came when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
I’d barely heard of MS, so when symptoms started, loss of balance, pins and needles in my legs, numbness in my feet I did the one thing you’re told not to do: I Googled it.
Every search came back to the same thing: MS. I told myself it couldn’t be true. But after many tests, the diagnosis was confirmed.
I had my own successful mobile beauty business and three young children to care for. Suddenly, I had to give up my work and rely on help to look after my family. I felt hopeless and helpless, falling into a dark place.
But slowly, I learned to accept that this was my life. Fifteen years later, I’m doing well. My amazing children are grown, and I’m even a proud nanny to a gorgeous grandson.
3. The Cancer Battle
The third and most recent was my cancer diagnosis in 2023.
I couldn’t believe it. First my daughter, then MS, and now this? I remember thinking, What else will the universe throw at me?
The shock was overwhelming. I worried about my future, my family, and most of all how I was going to tell my children. That conversation was one of the hardest moments of my life, but they met it with incredible love and support.
Chemo and radiotherapy were brutal physically and mentally but I got through them. Today, I am one year cancer-free. While I still live with side effects, I’m alive, and for that I am endlessly grateful. I owe my deepest thanks to the medical team at Mount Vernon Hospital for their care, kindness, and for saving my life.
Finding Strength Through Writing
I share my story to inspire you: never give up. Even when it feels impossible, strength is within you, sometimes hidden, but always there.
Through every challenge I’ve faced, one thing has been my lifeline: writing.
Whether in private journals or shared publicly, putting my experiences into words has helped me process, release, and heal. Emotional release through writing can be profoundly therapeutic not only for your mental wellbeing, but for your physical health, too.
If you’ve never tried journaling, I encourage you to start. Give your thoughts a safe place to land. You owe it to yourself to lighten the weight you carry.
Free Resource: Download my free Write to Release expressive writing mini eBook for those affected by cancer. My next eBook, focused on the loss of a child, is coming soon.
With much love and understanding,
Jenny xxx
writetorelease.com/write-to-release-free-book/book