On this page, we’ve made some space for the family to remember some happy times with Jodi, and reflect on the 20 years since we lost her.

Louise – Jodi’s Mum:

There’s no doubt about it, when you lose a child your life changes forever, and not just in the ways you might expect.

There was always a sense of peace during Jodi’s illness and passing for which I will be eternally grateful.  Her sense of humour and honesty about her feelings was and remains my abiding memory.

At times the pain is as intense as it was 20 years ago and that’s ok because I want to remember. Most of the time I just live with the good memories and positive times we had even in the midst of treatment.

I have discovered that there are some amazing people out there and that God is all he said he would be in times of need.  I appreciate not everyone shares in this belief system but for me it is truth and that alone has brought me through the most painful experience.

We, as a family, talk about Jodi a lot and know she is never far away.  She taught me so much and the experience continues to do so.

Life is sometimes short but let’s just remember that, though Jodi died at 11 years of age, she continues to touch the hearts of those who knew and loved her as well as those who never met her but have read about her or heard her story.

– Louise

Jennie – Jodi’s Sister:

My big sister was the best! Fact! Our time together was too short but we filled that time with the best memories that keep me smiling and laughing and have helped me get through the harder times.

Losing her at such a young age was just awful, there are no words to describe it. Days, weeks, months and now years have gone by and yes, life does go on and I did get my smile back but at times it feels just as raw as it did all those years ago.

We received so much support from friends and family and for that I am forever grateful.

I’m now happily married with the yummiest little 7 month old baby boy. I can’t wait to tell him all about his crazy Aunty Angel Jodi and tell him all my funny memories of her. I know she would love being his Aunty and would no doubt be teaching him many cheeky tricks and getting him into mischief!

Her courage and sense of humour was just incredible and truly inspiring. Life really is short and you never know what is round the corner so I just try and cherish every precious moment now just like Jodi would do.

One of my favourite memories of her was when we had the house on the market and we had someone come in to look around. We were told to be good while people came around so that’s exactly what we did….. yeh right! We quickly hid in our wardrobe, waited until they came into our room and started to play a tape of farm animal noises while desperately trying not to giggle! We didn’t get any offers on the house that day.

Like I said before, my big sister was the best! Fact!

-Jennie

Tom – Jodi’s Brother:

A remarkable aspect of Jodi’s passing was how differently it affected us all; we’ve had our own difficulties and challenges over the months and years since it happened. It seems that there are as many different ways to grieve as there are people in the world, and I don’t think that any of them are any more or less valid than others. For me it started with a kind of numbness, which took a long time to pass.

The first year was full of firsts – from small things like the first family dinner without her, to the day that would have been her 12th birthday, or the first Christmas. I almost built myself up to these occasions, so my defences were up, for better or worse. I still do this to an extent for certain anniversaries every year, even now. What has surprised me the most though is the small things that come completely out of the blue, something that I wasn’t expecting and would never imagine appears from nowhere and reminds me of her.

Sometimes these are sad memories – something I’d forgotten or had put out of my mind about when Jodi was ill, but recently they are often happy memories that come back to me. It’s hard to put into words how wonderful these are when they return, like an unexpected treasure.

I feel that grief is something that you carry with you for your whole life, but not as an unchanging burden around your neck. It’s more a part of yourself that grows and changes with you, and you learn how to live with it and go on.

I miss Jodi every day, but I’m so glad I got to spend the time I did with her, and I’m so grateful for what I learned from her about resilience, grace, kindness and humour in the face of adversity.

-Tom

David – Jodi’s Dad:

I was amazed and delighted to read Tom and Jennie’s thoughts, but mostly humbled and moved by what they wrote…indeed, there are many different ways to grieve.

Jodi’s illness and death have taught her immediate family, and countless others so many different lessons. As for me, I lose count of the lessons I learned, and how Jodi’s story has changed both my day-to-day life and my more general outlook on the time that is given to us.

Perhaps time for two particular thoughts:

Firstly, many people that we knew at the time, and some since, asked us if we did not feel that in some way the situation we found ourselves in was ‘unfair’… as though we should be asking the question, ‘Why has this happened to Jodi, and to our family?’. I thought at the time, and have only become more convinced over the intervening years, that this question was back-to-front. If we have the good fortune to have been spared too much illness and tragedy the question we should all ask ourselves is, ‘why, why have we been so blessed?’. I try to feel grateful for the blessings and happiness in my life, rather than bitter and resentful when things don’t go to my plan.

Secondly, in many ways, when Jodi died she was more healthy than anyone I have ever known. As her illness progressed towards what had become an inevitable conclusion Jodi managed to find peace. When she died her body had decided, ‘no more, it is time to stop’, however, she was at peace with herself, at peace with the World, and as far as I could tell at peace with her understanding of God. If I am ever that well… not sure how to finish that thought.

I suspect that what I say is not very profound, and perhaps many that go through similar experiences feel much the same. However, for the above, and for so much more, ‘Thank You, Jodi’… I have never stopped loving you, and never will X