Happy 6th Birthday to my darling girl; the girl who made me a mummy and taught me how to be strong, even when I don’t want to be.
Today you should be excitedly opening your birthday cards and presents before school. Perhaps taking sweets or cake or fruit in for your classmates to enjoy whilst wearing your birthday girl badge.
We would have probably done you a birthday party in the back garden in the sunshine the weekend just gone. Some of your friends would have come that you have been friends with pretty much since birth, school friends too and also your amazing cousins. I bet your baby sister would have had a meltdown because she wasn’t the centre of attention for once too.
I wonder what we would have bought you for your birthday? Judging by your cousin who is seven now probably a new bike or perhaps you are still as musical as you were aged 15 months so maybe we got you a piano? Your Aunty Kate would have made you the most amazing birthday cake too.
Anyway today we will do what we have done for the last 4 birthdays and we will take birthday balloons to your grave to say happy birthday to you darling girl. This year we have sent beautiful wild flower bouquets to your Grandmothers to make them smile through their tears.
Last year we gave party bags to all of the people who have supported us since you passed with sweets, mini champers (you did like your bubbles although not the alcoholic kind) and uniquely thoughtful gifts for them to make them smile.
In the years before that we always did random acts of kindness on your birthday like taking balloons and sweets to the Children’s Hospital; delivering cakes and balloons to your old nursery and leaving token gifts of sweets all around the local area and park. Alas once again for the second year we are scuppered by COVID19. I will do some random acts of kindness in a different way so check back here to find out what they were as if I reveal all now well they won’t be random and a surprise will they?
As we always do we will donate money to various charities, including giving money for a little child your age to receive a school uniform and toys that their parents wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. We have renewed sponsorship of a little girl your age in Africa paying for her to complete her schooling. We also renewed sponsorship of the elephants at Chester Zoo in memory of your favourite elephant toy.
Does anyone have any good ideas for something we can do this week?
I will also be starting the ball rolling to establish a charity in your honour to enable us to support many smaller causes and charities so we can help lots more people. It will also continue to build your legacy.
I hope we will make you proud little girl. You had such a big heart, such an appetite for life and a calm wisdom about you that was so advanced for your years.
Your little sister I know misses you even though she never got to meet you. She misses not having a sibling to share things with. She adores her cousins and whenever they visit she loves spending time with them. She shares her toys and games generously. She loves other children so I know she would love you.
Both your dad and I miss you more than you can imagine. We would do anything to have you back with us again. To have you arguing and squabbling with your sister, to watch you teaching her how to do things and to listen as you read her stories.
Sending you so much love on your birthday and wishing we could cuddle you once more.
Love always
Mummy, Daddy, Arthur (who is with you) and your baby sister Aurora
(who sang Happy Birthday to your Nanna a few days ago). xxx
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If you would like to donate to Violet’s fund at Alder Hey here’s the link to do so