TW: Grief, loss of a child
Apologies for the abrupt trigger warning at the top. I felt it was important as some people may feel unable to read about this and I completely understand that. It’s best to see the topic straight away and move on if need be, rather than have it creep up on you later in the text.
The past year has been incredibly difficult for me and my family as we navigated the heartbreaking loss of our eldest daughter, Imogen. Grieving her has been a challenging journey to say the least, and I had to step back from the business to focus on my family and personal healing.
Imogen was 31 and died unexpectedly in May 2024. They weren’t able to tell us why it happened and her death was recorded as SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome). I think many people, like us, may have heard of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) but not SADS. Not having a real answer for why this happened has been difficult, but we’ve come to accept it, even if we don’t understand.
I feel incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful family around me. My husband and I have three other children and we are extremely tight knit and have been supporting each other the best way we can. We talk about Imogen lots and enjoy recounting stories of daft things she did and said. Imogen was a strong character and although she has left a huge gap in our lives, we do our best to keep her memories alive.
Some people have described losing a child as being a life changing event. For me I don’t really see it that way. My life didn’t change, it feels more like the world changed when Imogen died and we have had to learn how to live in this new world that doesn’t have her in it.
Taking time out from work has been absolutely instrumental in my ability to process my grief and support my family. I recognise my privilege in being able to do this due to my husband being able to support our family financially. There are people who’ve suffered tremendous loss and have had no choice but to pick themselves up and carry on making a living. This must have been incredibly difficult and my heart goes out to anyone who is working through their grief.
I truly appreciate the patience and understanding of the people I’ve worked with over the years I’ve been running Pink Giraffe. If you’ve been waiting for help or advice on running your own business, I want to let you know that I’m here and ready to assist and I hope you understand why I had to step away for a while.
Moving forward, I’ll be slowly easing back into things, and I hope to catch up with many of you over the coming weeks. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out, and I’ll do my best to help. Please don’t feel you can’t contact me or ask questions. I am posting this publicly because I am happy to talk about what happened in the hope it may help others.
Thank you all for your kindness and understanding during this time. I look forward to getting back to what I love—working with all of you.
With love & gratitude,
Nicky
❤️ If you’ve been affected by any of the topics I’ve mentioned above, there is help available.
UK Support Services:
Cruse Bereavement Support
www.cruse.org.uk | 0808 808 1677
Offers free and confidential support to anyone grieving, including online resources, helpline, and local support groups.
The Compassionate Friends
www.tcf.org.uk | 0345 123 2304
A peer support charity run by bereaved parents offering understanding, comfort and hope after the death of a child.
SADS UK
www.sadsuk.org.uk | 01277 811215
Provides information and support to families affected by Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome and other sudden cardiac deaths.
Child Bereavement UK
www.childbereavementuk.org | 0800 02 888 40
Supports families when a baby or child dies or is dying, and also when a child is grieving.
Samaritans
www.samaritans.org | 116 123 (free, 24/7)
For anyone in emotional distress, including grief—available day or night with no judgment or pressure.
Outside the UK?
If you’re based elsewhere in the world, support is still out there. Search for “grief support” or “bereavement helpline” in your country, or try reaching out to a local mental health organisation, hospital, or faith group. Talking to your GP or family doctor can also be a good first step.
