Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

'In this incredibly moving must-read, Simon shares his journey through immense grief and pain, and shows us how hope can spring from the darkest of times' Fearne Cotton

In November 2017, Simon Thomas's life was thrown into turmoil. His wife, Gemma, died suddenly from acute myleloid leukaemia. Left to care for their young son, Ethan, on his own, he resigned from Sky Sports, and put all his efforts into helping them both through the most difficult year of their lives. In 2019 he published the first edition of this book, in which – with searing honesty – he recounted that first year of loss and grief that he felt not only for himself, but also for his son Ethan.

But grief evolves; its rawness becomes less brutal and time offers space to reflect, to consider what has passed and to recognize that our experience with grief itself changes. In 2020 Simon launched a new podcast, Life, Interrupted, in which he interviews both celebrities and those not well-known, whose lives have been radically changed by a traumatic event. The podcast was the inspiration to revisit this book; and with the benefit of time, to reflect on what he has learned since Gemma's death.

This is not an A-Z on how to cope with grief: it is a father and son's journey down grief's bumpy road as they begin to find a reason to live again. Love, Interrupted shows that however much the darkness closes in, however bereft of hope life can sometimes feel, there is always light, love and life to be found.

This updated and revised edition includes Simon's Reflections from a Distance, written four years after the original edition was published; he contemplates hope, recovery and happiness.

1139890041
Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

'In this incredibly moving must-read, Simon shares his journey through immense grief and pain, and shows us how hope can spring from the darkest of times' Fearne Cotton

In November 2017, Simon Thomas's life was thrown into turmoil. His wife, Gemma, died suddenly from acute myleloid leukaemia. Left to care for their young son, Ethan, on his own, he resigned from Sky Sports, and put all his efforts into helping them both through the most difficult year of their lives. In 2019 he published the first edition of this book, in which – with searing honesty – he recounted that first year of loss and grief that he felt not only for himself, but also for his son Ethan.

But grief evolves; its rawness becomes less brutal and time offers space to reflect, to consider what has passed and to recognize that our experience with grief itself changes. In 2020 Simon launched a new podcast, Life, Interrupted, in which he interviews both celebrities and those not well-known, whose lives have been radically changed by a traumatic event. The podcast was the inspiration to revisit this book; and with the benefit of time, to reflect on what he has learned since Gemma's death.

This is not an A-Z on how to cope with grief: it is a father and son's journey down grief's bumpy road as they begin to find a reason to live again. Love, Interrupted shows that however much the darkness closes in, however bereft of hope life can sometimes feel, there is always light, love and life to be found.

This updated and revised edition includes Simon's Reflections from a Distance, written four years after the original edition was published; he contemplates hope, recovery and happiness.

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Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

by Simon Thomas
Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief, Finding Hope

by Simon Thomas

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Overview

'In this incredibly moving must-read, Simon shares his journey through immense grief and pain, and shows us how hope can spring from the darkest of times' Fearne Cotton

In November 2017, Simon Thomas's life was thrown into turmoil. His wife, Gemma, died suddenly from acute myleloid leukaemia. Left to care for their young son, Ethan, on his own, he resigned from Sky Sports, and put all his efforts into helping them both through the most difficult year of their lives. In 2019 he published the first edition of this book, in which – with searing honesty – he recounted that first year of loss and grief that he felt not only for himself, but also for his son Ethan.

But grief evolves; its rawness becomes less brutal and time offers space to reflect, to consider what has passed and to recognize that our experience with grief itself changes. In 2020 Simon launched a new podcast, Life, Interrupted, in which he interviews both celebrities and those not well-known, whose lives have been radically changed by a traumatic event. The podcast was the inspiration to revisit this book; and with the benefit of time, to reflect on what he has learned since Gemma's death.

This is not an A-Z on how to cope with grief: it is a father and son's journey down grief's bumpy road as they begin to find a reason to live again. Love, Interrupted shows that however much the darkness closes in, however bereft of hope life can sometimes feel, there is always light, love and life to be found.

This updated and revised edition includes Simon's Reflections from a Distance, written four years after the original edition was published; he contemplates hope, recovery and happiness.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781837962754
Publisher: Trigger Publishing
Publication date: 10/12/2021
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 200
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Simon Thomas has been a highly successful TV Broadcaster for nearly 20 years – starting as a Blue Peter presenter in 1999, followed by twelve years as an anchor for Sky Sports; eventually fronting their flagship Premier League football coverage. He is a lifelong Norwich City fan and now the proud President of the charity Bloodwise UK, a cause extremely close to his heart.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Moving Forward, but Never Forgetting xix

Part 1 From the End to the Beginning 1

1 The Longest Day of My Life 3

'There is nothing seriously wrong.'

2 The Quiet Whisper of Fear 10

'You need to get better.'

3 Time to Fight 14

'Your blood is deranged.'

4 50-50 19

'Gemma has acute myeloid leukaemia.'

Reflections from a Distance: Selflessness 24

5 A Glimmer of Hope 25

'Daddy, why is there a shop selling wigs?'

6 After All Hope Was Gone 28

'There's a real possibility she won't get better.'

7 You Will Always Be … 34

'Please, God, stop this bleeding.'

8 A Champagne Soirée 42

'I can remember the moment so well…'

Reflections from a Distance: Faith 47

9 In Sickness and in Health 48

'Darl, I've got something I need to tell you …'

10 A Woman of Compassion 54

'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

Part 2 Riding the Storm 59

11 The Aftermath 61

'How the hell am I going to tell Ethan?'

Reflections from a Distance: Practicalities 64

12 A Boy Without a Mum 65

'Why God? Why have you left a boy without his mum?'

13 All I Want for Christmas … 70

'There's a Lego Minecraft set I really want but most of all I want Mummy back.'

14 Finding Light in the Darkness 74

'Ethan, if Mummy was here right now, what would she say to you?'

15 Stop All the Clocks 80

'You only do barbecues and omelettes.'

16 Mountain by Mountain 83

'My head is all over the place but I'm desperate to get some peace about Ethan's future.'

17 Happy Christmas, Your Arse ('Fairytale of New York') 89

This isn't happening, this can't be happening.'

18 Out of Time 93

'Everything feels like it's crashing down around me again.'

Reflections from a Distance: Negative Emotions 101

19 Meltdown at Old Trafford 102

'I know you feel awful but honestly it all looks great.'

Part 3 Struggles and Huggles 107

20 Life in a Parallel Universe 109

'I am very proud of you and excited for the next part of our journey together.'

21 The Bacon Boys 116

'Dare to be vulnerable. Honest weakness takes courage.'

22 Simon James Thomas: Widower 122

'Not many who come here are supported in the way you are.'

Reflections from a Distance: Friendship 125

23 Like Mother, Like Son 126

'Daddy, can I choose some of Mummy's clothes to put in a memory box?'

24 Never Give Up! 130

'Now It's my seat, Daddy.'

25 Are You Feeling Better Yet? 134

'I've not lost my dog. I've lost my bloody wife!'

Reflections from a Distance: Communication 140

26 December Mourning 141

'I just needed a good shout.'

27 Jumping Puddles 144

'All the things that Mummy did are written in a special letter which is her life.'

28 Pressure Waves 148

'Daddy, you could die really quickly too.'

Reflections from a Distance: Ethan 152

29 Do Not Weep at My Grave … 153

'Sorry to break crematorial etiquette but she's not here, I'm off.'

30 Episodes 157

'Dear Lard. Please will you help Daddy to have a good time.'

31 Bottom of the Glass 164

'What if people discover who I really am?'

32 The Great Deceiver 167

'Ethan doesn't need his daddy hitting the drink.'

Reflections from a Distance: Alcohol 173

33 Nowhere to Hide 174

'There is literally nothing in life … that cannot he made immeasurably worse by drink.'

34 The Beautiful Game 177

'Don't let the pain rob me of my joy.'

Reflections from a Distance: Helping Others 180

35 Stoppage Time 181

'When an we going to see you on our screens again?'

Part 4 Reason to Live 185

36 Stealer of Dreams 187

'Mummy would be beyond proud of you, and so am I.'

37 Daddy's Little Helper 190

'Daddy if you ever were to get married again would you have a baby with that lady?'

38 Random Acts of Kindness 194

'Know that all of heaven is cheering you on, Simon.'

Reflections from a Distance: Kindness 198

39 Out of the Ashes 199

'I have some packages for you.'

40 No to Plan B 203

'Si, what happens if it rains?'

41 The Odd Couple 209

'Why don't you go on some kind of road tour?'

Reflections from a Distance: Laughter and Happy Memories 214

42 The Last First 215

'My boy you are amazing, you really are.'

43 Nothing but Time 221

'Is this a night when I give in; when I find solace in drink?'

44 Widowed and Young 225

'People will come into your life because of what's happened.'

Reflections from a Distance: Starting Again 232

45 Brand New Morning 233

'Will the darkness ever relent?'

Part 5 And Time Passes 235

46 12 Months - 12 Things I Learnt About Grief 237

'Isn't it time to move on?'

Reflections from a Distance: There is a Season 249

Acknowledgements 251

Further Information 253

About Blood Cancer UK 259

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