No Mother Should Know This Pain

Brave Sukhi lost her son, but is working to help save others.

- Lucy Needham/Hannah Abbott

Sukhi Atwal, 50,

Great Barr, West Midlands

Standing in the hallway, I waited for my boys to get their things together.

It was half-term and they were going for a sleepover at their cousins’ house.

‘You’re going to be late!’ I shouted up the stairs.

A few minutes later, Amar, 12, and Arjun, 10, came racing downstairs, their rucksacks packed and ready.

But before they dashed out of the door, Amar stopped to give me a huge hug. He was such a loving, kind boy.

‘I love you so much, Mum,’ he said, wrapping his arms tightly around me. 

‘I love you, too, but you’d better get going,’ I replied.

I waved them off outside, where their lift was waiting, before going back in to make a start on dinner. 

After we’d eaten, my husband Harbhajan, 53, and I relaxed on the sofa in front of the TV.

The next evening, my husband got a phone call. But, not recognising the number, he didn’t answer it.

Minutes later, I got a call from the same number, so I picked up.

‘Are you Amar’s mum?’ said the voice on the other end. 

‘Yes… Why?’ I said. 

‘I’m afraid there’s been a car accident. You need to come to the children’s hospital,’ came the reply.