Teen nephew death - how to support his parents?

79 replies

Biscuitzzz · 14/10/2024 14:58

Have NC for privacy.

My darling nephew has suddenly died, aged 15, after collapsing at school last week.

My brother and his wife tried for years to have a baby and he was their only child.

My nephew was on life support but died over the weekend.

I live quite far away and my brother and sister in law don't want any messages, cards etc at the moment.

How can I support them in the future?

I'm sorry to say this, but I am haunted by the thought of that beautiful boy lying in rest and that he is gone forever and life will never be the same again for his parents and family.

His funeral is going to be so sad and harrowing - I hate to think of him being buried or cremated when he should be looking forward to the wonderful future he planned.

We all loved him so much.

OP posts:

Fireworknight · 31/01/2025 10:40

Sorry for your loss.

familyissues12345 · 31/01/2025 10:41

So sorry for your loss @LegoBluebell , that's so sad, 12 is no age at all

Which county are you? X

LegoBluebell · 31/01/2025 11:05

familyissues12345 · 31/01/2025 10:41

So sorry for your loss @LegoBluebell , that's so sad, 12 is no age at all

Which county are you? X

Thank you.

I'm in South Gloucestershire but my sister's family live further north.

Original poster

Biscuitzzz · 02/02/2025 15:19

LegoBluebell · 31/01/2025 10:26

My 12 year old nephew was hit by a car and died a few days later in November last year. I found your post because I was looking for anyone in a similar position, with the death of a nephew or niece. I'm so sorry for your loss.

What I'm finding hard is navigating my own grief and also the grief I have on behalf of my sister. I want to protect her from the pain and support her but it's hard to know how. What would have been his 12th birthday is coming up in April. Some of the comments here are really helpful with ideas of how to provide ongoing support. She's not a flowers person but maybe I will still send a card he might have liked to mark the occasion. I have 2 boys, but one is a toddler and the other is 8 and she also has a 9 year old daughter. The three older children were so close and it's hard to work out how much to speak to my son and niece about my nephew. My niece is (rightly) getting loads of support from a sibling loss charity, but there isn't such a place for children who have lost a cousin.

So sorry - the pain and sorrow is unbearable.

OP posts:

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