Sitting by your bedside, we prayed and watched you sleep, Rested our hands upon your head, as the machines continued to bleep. In memories of your wondrous life, we would explore and rejoice, The silence was thick around us, with the loss of your sweet voice. The days you woke and smiled at us, we thanked the Lord above, We tried to send you energy, we channelled through our love. The times you moved and opened your eyes, our hearts would bounce with glee, We believed you were going to make it; never imagined what would be. You asked for water, we would sponge your lips, We would give you tea, through a straw in sips. I creamed your hands, your feet, your face, I brushed your hair, as your heart would race. We watched you rise, we watched you fall, We prayed that you would strengthen some more. Never giving up - never letting go of hope, We prayed with our hearts that you would come back home. Your breathing was shallow, and came in gasps, Pain in your chest, that seemed to last. I traced your life by the numbers on the machines, The red, the yellow, the blue and the green. They took us to that room, again and again, And told us you would leave, but you battled through the pain. Each hurdle you faced with such force, with such strength, We honour you now, we honoured you then. We never believed you would leave, not one minute of one day, ‘Please don’t give up, be strong,’ we would whisper and would pray. In the sieve of our hands our tears would silently fall, You’d never see the agony inside us, you couldn’t tell at all. But now you’ve left, checked out and gone to a better place, We are left with the footprints of your journey to recall and retrace. You’ve left me here and now I’m all alone, You’ve left me here with no mum to call my own. They told me to write this poem because I’m good with words, But how do I convey my love for you so the truth can be heard? How do I tell the world how much I love you, how much I miss your face? Your smile, your touch, your laughter; a mother’s warm embrace. Who will wipe my tears now; console me when I’m sad, Give me advice, make me laugh or calm me when I’m mad? Who will ask me if I have eaten or if I’m feeling well, Who will know when I need a friend, who will be able to tell? Who will look at me with pride, when I have achieved a goal, Who will tell me off and scold me, when I need to be told? Who will be the loving grandma to my unborn child that’s due? I’ll be a mother just like mine, that’s a promise I make to you. I see you now, standing at God’s open door, Ready to go and be happy forever more. You smile, you laugh, you turn and wave, You say ‘Be strong. Don’t cry. Be brave. Make me proud, even though I am not there, I’ll be with you always; you can count on me to care. I am your angel now, as I was on earth, I will never leave your side; I’ll always be there first. I’m happy now; I have no suffering, no pain, I’m with others that left before me, those that know my name. I’m dancing in God’s garden, it’s so beautiful where I live, God’s keeping me safe in Paradise; He has so much love to give. If ever you need me, just call out my name, I’ll come to you in your dreams, Together we will be one heart, no matter how distant we may seem. Remember me and be happy, don’t think of me and feel bad, Because then I’d rather you forget me, than remember and be sad. I’m the passing breeze that warms you, when you’re feeling cold, I’m the angel by your side, when you need a hand to hold. When you’re scared or anxious, I’ll be the one to melt your fear away, I’ll be in the breath of life you breathe, tomorrow and every day. I’m the one that carries you and helps you when you fall, I’m the sunshine’s warm embrace; the song bird’s waking call. I’m the one that brightens you, with radiant light from afar, Look up, to the skies. That’s where you’ll find me. I am your shining star. I was, I am, I always will be, the one that loved you best, Don’t ever feel like I have left you, it’s just my time to rest. I was with you then, I am with you now, I never wanted to die, But God needed me so much more than you did - so please release me, let me fly….’