On the Morning of the 27th Of February 2004, I was quite a Happy little Bunny, I was 19, pregnant with my first child. Today was the day I was getting the cot, we were not in the money and one of my co-workers had offered me a cot for £50 or there about. Having no car I had asked my mother to come help me pick it up, so I was chuffed. Little Bump Chloe would have another piece to add to her room.
First up - Getting work out the way. Shift was from 9am till 1.30. Not overly long but still, what a boring job it was. Getting the patient files, popping them in the rotating shelves in alphabetical order. Honestly, I was possibly the worst worker, I was forever getting them in the wrong order, but the people were lovely and my co-worker would forever be putting me right.
During work and break, I called up my mother telling her not to bother, the snow was heavy and the ice was thick. She agreed, and that was that. We would be getting the cot another day.
On arriving home later that day I figured the snow had melted a little, and it would be nice to see her so I grabbed my Really Red Phone, and I will never forget this moment it's still as though it was yesterday and I called her. She agreed to come through but with step-dad driving.
We all went for dinner at weather-spoons in Arbroath, I borrowed £20 off my mum to get the baby bouncer to, then back to mine, where my husband stayed with my mum and brother, while my step-dad and I went out to collect the cot. When we got back my mum asked me to build up the cot to let her see it, I wish I'd agreed but I said No as I was far to tired by this point and just wanted to sleep.
I gave her a hug and she left - but for some reason I called her back for an extra hug, these are the points that I remember most. That day seems so clear.
Next thing I knew I heard what I thought was the police banging at the door, I listened in as Michael (My partner at the time - now husband) answered but the voices were muffled.
Michael came upstairs and told me to get up quickly, there had been an accident and my family were now at the hospital. It never once occurred to me it would be anything serious. I went to get my bag and purse. My mum's friends said 'no - just forget that, we need to go, there has been a car crash' I remember reluctantly leaving my bag, feeling that I had time to get it as everyone knows A&E takes forever, the queues are terrible.
First off, we went in the car to go to my Mum's friends where (Let's call her Anne, and her husband Tim) Anne told me we had to call Ninewell's. When I called I was told my Step-Dad had been Checked in, and My brother had been Checked in. No Sign of My mum though. Still, I was not worried, far from it I remember being calm, thinking she had possibly not been hurt so no need to check in, I had images of her sitting worried in a room with my brother. She could handle it, she was a strong woman my mother.
Having now had called Ninewells we got on our way, in the car, things started racing though my mind, why was the hospital necessary? Would they just need a lift home? What If ....
It was around midnight when we got there, there did not seem to be anyone around. Rather eerie to be honest. As we got deeper into the hospital we eventually reached somewhere where a nurse stood, Tim went to talk to her and two minutes later a Doctor appeared. We were led into a room with a few chairs, to take a seat. 'I'm sorry but your Mum did not make it' the conversation seems to stop there, all I picked up on after that was my brother had not woke up and my step-dad was in a bad way .....
After this I went to see my brother, he was only 14 so he was on a child's ward, the nurse showed us where he was, I took one look and decided I could not go in any further - with a tear drop of blood trickling down from his eye, it made me leave. He was sleeping that was as much as I could take.
Next up step-dad, I hoped for a better outcome, he was awake though I could not choke up a word all he said was 'I know .. I knew she was hadn't made it' With a drain at his side his lungs and ribs had taken a beating.
As we walked out to the car park away from the hospital I did not see much, though my husband did, and it was not until a later date that we learned it was the monster who done it.
First point of call in all my wisdom at the time was to head to the care home where my mother had worked as a RMN. At that point in time all I could think on was letting them know, she had work the next day and having had worked there myself I knew that my mum would have wanted them to get organised, they would need staff the next day. When we got there no one answered the door, they would be busy, but I remembered the phone number somehow, and they answered. I let them know we were at the door, and as I told them all three broke down in tears .. I knew I should but they just did not come, I had more to do.
We went to my Mum's house next, where my Dad was called. He lived in Bristol so he should know, I remember saying First, I am sorry to call you at this hour but ....
The next day he was on his way, my Aunt was already there alongside my Papa. I just did not want to leave my brother's side, What in the world would I tell him when he woke? (Cont..)
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