August 2018

On 30 August 2018, Oliver was born. Suddenly, it didn’t matter about my own scars, my past, the horror I’d been through. I was a mother. I’d survived everything – the fire, the bullies – for my baby. As I held Oliver against my chest, felt the warmth of his body on mine for the first time, I’d never felt love like it. When Joshua scooped him up into his arms, I knew that our lives were complete. I’m going to teach Oliver to be brave and to always stand up to bullies. And I’m going to keep embracing my scars, because they’re a part of who I am.