‘i Kept going in Memory of anna’
Linda Swabey, 62, lives in north Yorkshire, with husband Keith.
My youngest daughter tapped on the changing room and passed me a shift dress. Anna was marrying her fiancé, Andy, in three months, but I struggled to do up the size 22.
With a hug, Anna said, ‘Mum, I think you’re beautiful, but I know you don’t think so. You’ve got to do something about this.’ She started searching online for a local Slimming World group.
The year before, Anna, 23, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. The family reeled, but we rallied together. So when Anna told us she was getting married, we were determined to make it the best day possible.
When my two older children, Victoria and Matthew, were small, I rarely seemed to have time for proper meals. After my divorce from my first husband, I met Keith, and we got married. Then, while pregnant with Anna, my mum passed away suddenly and I turned to food for comfort.
With Anna’s diagnosis, food became my solace again. But watching my daughter fight so hard put my weight struggles into perspective. So I joined the group, weighing 16st 3lb. I followed the plan to the letter – Weetabix with a banana for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, and kedgeree with vegetables for dinner
I lost 9lb in my first week. But soon after, Anna’s condition deteriorated. The day before she should have married, Anna died.
She always had a great passion for life and I could hear her telling me to carry on. Planning my meals gave me back some focus. Also, we’d bought Anna a dog, Enid, and I walked her daily. I’m sure she helped me get to my 10st 31/2lb target.