Pick Me Up! 21-Feb-2019

Watching Mum tearing round making tea, giving my dad Harold, 96, his meds, doing the washing up, I was worried. ‘Let me help you,’ I said. Mum shook her head. ‘I’m fine,’ she chirped. Strong, determined, she was a survivor. She had to be. In 2000, she lost her mum, then just over a year later my brother Robert, 19, passed away, too. If that wasn’t heartbreak enough her brother - my uncle Fred - died in June 2013. Too much for anyone to bear. But Mum always rallied. Then in July last year, my beloved dad, who had dementia, took a turn for the worst. But, despite the grief, endless hospital trips and the funeral arrangements, still Mum stayed brave. ‘We’ve all got to stick together,’ she’d smile. I…

Clover, 5 days old, was sleeping like an angel, probably exhausted from keeping Mummy up the night before. Georgia Parkhouse, Kirkby-In-Ashfield I had a bone to pick with this guy – luckily he didn’t mind. And I had a great time being a pathologist for a day. Jo Greasby, Bradford I love my cheeky monkeys Sonny, 9 weeks, and Alfie, 2, but it won’t be long before they drive us all, including Grandad, bananas… Rosie Pope, Selsey Harrison, 4, is much braver than his mummy, standing smiling all while holding an eagle! Eek! Alison Tucker, Edenbridge My children Charlie and Maddie had a blast taking part in the Pride Parade to raise awareness for a brilliant charity. Kellie Ellison, Manchester Flying high during my first-ever aerial yoga class, something I’m…

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The room was still spinning as I struggled to understand what had happened to me. It was 13 July 2009, and I’d woken up in a hospital bed after four days unconscious. Apparently I’d suffered a horrific sleepwalking accident, stepping right off the end of the 24ft high balcony of my flat in Malaga, where I was working at the time. I’d stepped off the balcony in my sleep. It was a freak accident I couldn’t believe it, I hardly ever walked in my sleep. It had just been a freak accident. Aged 29, I’d woken up unable to move my bottom half, with my hips broken in five places, as well as both legs. ‘You are very lucky to be alive,’ the doctor said. My parents Carol, 53, and…

That same day, I was sent home from the hospital. Feeling broken, I took Jake’s yellow blanket with me, as well as his hand and footprints. So I could keep a little piece of him with me. Medics said that I would receive the results of his autopsy within a few weeks. But I heard nothing. After three weeks of silence, I called the hospital to check on the autopsy. I was desperate for answers, reassurance that I’d not made the wrong choice. Calling in to the hospital switchboard, I was told that somebody would call me back. Again, the call never came. Months turned into years and my frustration only grew I was deeply frustrated, and my mental health began to suffer. But I was also taking legal action…

Swiping left, left, left, I waited for Mr Right. It was August 2014 and I was new to Tinder. Suddenly, a warm smile and big brown eyes stopped me in my tracks. I swiped right...and within seconds, we were matched. Hey, beautiful, he wrote. Hi, I wrote back, feeling shy. An ex-police officer, I usually brimmed with confidence. Now, I felt like a schoolgirl once again. His name was Andrew Heppell, 41, and he was a plumber from Newcastle - 11 miles from me. He was funny and charming, and I was hooked on our messages back and forth. A month on, I’d butterflies as we spoke on the phone. His voice was gruff and manly. I knew I’d feel safe with Andrew. Three months later, I was growing anxious…