MAKING DEV PROUD
WOMAN'S OWN|June 06, 2022
On the anniversary of her son's death, Meera Naran, 38, is campaigning to ensure no other mother will endure the grief she has
SARAH WHITELEY
MAKING DEV PROUD

Picking up his big brother Neel's coat, my youngest son Dev gently helped him put it on. Now let's get your shoes,' he said.

'Dev, you don't have to do that,' I said. 'I can help Neel.' I shouldn't have bothered putting up any resistance. Dev, eight, was devoted to his brother.

'Don't worry, Mum,' he replied, shaking his head. I've got this.'

Neel had been diagnosed with brain damage and epilepsy at three days old, in September 2008, due to a rare condition. Doctors warned us they didn't know how long he'd live or what milestones he'd reach.

It really changed mine and my husband's perspective, and we lived each day as if it could be Neel's last. We passed that outlook onto Dey when he was born just 13 months later, and he needed no encouragement to be there for his big brother. Every day, after school, he'd rush straight past me, towards Neel.

'I did really well in my maths test,' he'd tell him. Neel's speech was limited, but nothing stopped the two of them from communicating and laughing together.

Each night, Dev would curl up in Neel's bed and they'd squeeze each other tightly and fall asleep in each other's arms.

Dev loved being a sibling so much, he told us he wanted a little sister - but not until he was 10. Then I'll be old enough to help,' he told me. 'We can call her Evangeline, like in Nanny McPhee.'

It started as a joke, but having always wanted more children, it became our plan.

Dev was such a special little boy. At six, he told me he wanted to be a brain surgeon. There must be lots of children out there like Neel, and I could help them,' he said.

This story is from the June 06, 2022 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 06, 2022 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WOMAN'S OWNView All
FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
WOMAN'S OWN

FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS

Filling family meals to save you time and money

time-read
3 mins  |
January 06, 2025
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
WOMAN'S OWN

ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?

Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try

time-read
4 mins  |
January 06, 2025
GO OUT OF SEASON
WOMAN'S OWN

GO OUT OF SEASON

While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
WOMAN'S OWN

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
WOMAN'S OWN

THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless

time-read
5 mins  |
January 06, 2025
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
WOMAN'S OWN

MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG

For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement

time-read
4 mins  |
January 06, 2025
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
WOMAN'S OWN

'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'

Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 06, 2025
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
WOMAN'S OWN

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence

time-read
5 mins  |
January 06, 2025
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
WOMAN'S OWN

'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'

Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move

time-read
3 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
WOMAN'S OWN

Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE

We take a look at the power couple's posh pads

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025