“All these years I never knew there were so many kids like me. It feels good to know I’m not alone.”

“All these years I never knew there were so many kids like me. It feels good to know I’m not alone.”

Kitty is 14 years old and been living with her Nan and Pop for the past year. Kitty’s Dad died suddenly when she was 10. No one ever explained to Kitty how her Dad had died but she remembers being picked up from school by a neighbour and staying at their house until her Mum collected her late that night. Kitty has only recently started talking about that time.

Kitty’s Mum started to behave differently and started isolating herself from friends and family. Kitty thought it was somehow her fault that her Dad had died and that her Mum blamed her. Whatever she did nothing seemed to make it better. Sometimes her Mum would stay away all day and night but Kitty didn’t tell anyone in case it made her Mum angrier.

Kitty’s Mum died from a drug overdose when Kitty was 13. She knew as soon as she saw her Pop waiting outside the school that something dreadful had happened. She stayed with her grandparents that night and has been with them ever since. They have always told Kitty that none of this was her fault and how much her parents loved her but she is only just beginning to believe it. Through meeting other Mirabel children Kitty is realising there are lots of children like her. Her sad memories will never completely disappear but with the help of grief counselling she’s now able to talk about those times and feels some excitement for the years ahead.

Since moving in with her grandparents Kitty has been to school every day, something that was too difficult to achieve before. She and her Nan are planning a party for her 15th birthday – this will be the first birthday party she has had since her Dad died.

Kitty will be joining the Mirabel Youth Ambassadors next year.