Mark opens up about the devastating loss of his 5 year old daughter, Sian.
In the days and weeks after Sian’s death from an asthma attack, Mark felt numb. Like many fathers, he found himself suppressing his own emotions. Wanting to stay strong, keep busy, and focus on helping others. He threw himself into doing what he could to support his wife, Claire, and protect their family. But underneath it all, he was struggling too.
Mark shares how the pressure he felt to “fix things” left little room for his own grief. He was worried about how Sian’s death would affect the family dynamic, how his other children were coping, and what it might mean for his relationship with Claire. Like many couples, they were grieving differently—and that brought its own challenges.
What helped most was finding connection with other bereaved parents. Talking to others who had lived through the death of a child gave Mark and Claire the comfort of knowing they weren’t alone. Hearing that others had faced the same heartbreak, and survived it, offered strength and understanding when they needed it most.
Mark and Claire continue to walk their grief journey together, recognising that their individual experiences may look different, but that shared understanding and honest communication are what hold them together.
Red Nose is committed to supporting families navigating the complexities of the loss of a baby or child. We provide specialised bereavement support including: counselling, peer support programs, support groups, and resources tailored to individual needs.
Red Nose is committed to supporting families navigating the complexities of the loss of a baby or child. To access our specialised bereavement support including: counselling, peer support programs, support groups, and resources tailored to individual needs, click here.
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