The bomb won’t beat us.. I know Mum’s watching over the baby she’ll never hold
NEWBORN LIFTS CHRISTMAS
22 died in bomb blitz at Manchester Arena The Sunday Mirror organised gifts for Jayden and a visit from Santa a couple of days before Christmas.
Lauren told him that the special day had been arranged by his Nana Lisa, up in heaven.
“I was in labour but my relatives sent me videos of Jayden meeting Father Christmas,” she laughs.
“And to see him looking so happy after the horrible year we have had was wonderful because it’s him I have worried about most. He talks about suicide bombers, not normal for a child.
“His behaviour has changed, he has days where he’s a monkey and others where he goes into moods. He can’t handle talking about Nana but I tell him she’s an angel watching over him. We lay flowers at the cemetery.”
Recalling May 22, Lauren tells how she and Lisa went shopping for a new washing machine. Lauren laughs as she says: “We were so similar we clashed sometimes, we could have always been
sisters! We were big shopaholics, with very similar tastes. My mum was very glamorous and she had a contagious laugh. Not hearing her laugh any more, that has been one of the hardest things.”
Lisa was excited about taking younger daughter India, 16, to see Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena. She planned to dine out with pal Alison Howe, 45, before the pair would pick up their daughters. Alison was to die in the blast too.
Lauren goes on: “The last time I saw my mum was when she dropped me off. I realised I had left my coat in the back so I ran up the road and banged on her car window, I made her jump out of her skin.
“My last memory of her is pulling my coat out and hearing
Dylan has brightened up our Christmases and brought us cheer...we feel a little happier LAUREN LEES ON BITTER-SWEET FIRST YULETIDE WITHOUT MUM