GONE IN A HEARTBEAT
WOMAN'S OWN|April 22, 2024
Catherine Heffernan, 40, was resting after her night shift when a knock at the door changed her life forever
- VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH
GONE IN A HEARTBEAT

Bouncing on the trampoline in our garden, my son Ryan, 12, got higher and higher with every jump.

'Careful,' I laughed, as his sisters waited for their turn.

I thought back to Ryan as a toddler, and how he'd been desperate to scramble up to the trampoline but not quite being big enough to have a go.

'Seems like only yesterday,' I said to my partner Mike.

It was March 2022, and Ryan was now a healthy, energetic young boy and between him and his sisters, our house was never quiet.

Full of giggles, Ryan would be ambushing us with his Nerf gun one moment, and then reeling off facts about his favourite Pokémon the next.

'Look what I just caught,' said Ryan later that day, showing me his latest Pokémon Go catch on his phone.

I had no clue about them, but I loved seeing Ryan so excited.

His other passion was animals, and with three cats, lizards and fish in our house, I joked that it was turning into a zoo!

‘I want to be a marine biologist,’ he’d say, and was always begging for new pets for our aquarium.

FAMILIAR ROUTINE

The next morning, I arrived home after a night shift at a supermarket to the usual chaos of getting the kids ready for school.

‘Can’t find my PE kit,’ grumbled Ryan, still half asleep.

Ironing his school blazer, I slid his arms into the sleeves.

‘Have a good day, love you,’ I said, giving him a hug and kiss.

‘Love you too,’ he said, stepping out the front door to walk the five-minute journey to school with his big sister.

この蚘事は WOMAN'S OWN の April 22, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は WOMAN'S OWN の April 22, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

WOMAN'S OWNのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS
WOMAN'S OWN

MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS

Pe This istand in the ut 7% Indian Ocean feels Sa: like paradise, says Charlotte Richards

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
I HATE BEING A MUM
WOMAN'S OWN

I HATE BEING A MUM

One woman, 55, reveals why she resents all of the sacrifices she made to be a mother

time-read
5 分  |
October 28, 2024
SLASH SUGAR AND SLIM
WOMAN'S OWN

SLASH SUGAR AND SLIM

Trying to lose weight? With these clever tweaks, you don’t have to miss out on the seasonal sweet stuff

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR
WOMAN'S OWN

DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR

Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
SEX HORRORS SOLVED!
WOMAN'S OWN

SEX HORRORS SOLVED!

Stop physical intimacy from turning into the stuff of nightmares with our expert advice

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE WITH CANCER
WOMAN'S OWN

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE WITH CANCER

More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours each year in the UK. Two mums tell us how the cruel disease changed their lives forever

time-read
3 分  |
October 28, 2024
DAWN NEESOM MIND OF MY OWN
WOMAN'S OWN

DAWN NEESOM MIND OF MY OWN

The Woman's Own columnist has her say on marriage, tea and Absolutely Fabulous!

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOME WITH A MONSTER
WOMAN'S OWN

TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOME WITH A MONSTER

Gemma Williams, 46, thought she'd die at the hands of her partner

time-read
4 分  |
October 28, 2024
AMANDA TO REPLACE CAT?
WOMAN'S OWN

AMANDA TO REPLACE CAT?

With increasing criticism directed at the This Morning host, are producers ready to call in a familiar face?

time-read
3 分  |
October 28, 2024
Get the GOSS
WOMAN'S OWN

Get the GOSS

Your round-up of this week's biggest showbiz stories

time-read
1 min  |
October 28, 2024