100 THINGS TO DO WHEN I DIE
Mum's list for raising 2 sons
A devoted mum who died of cancer has left a poignant list of 100 things her husband should do to raise their two young boys.
Kate Greene, who died at 37, drew up the instructions for husband St John in her final days. The list includes dos and don'ts and her hopes and ambitions for their sons Finn, four, and Reef, six, who himself survived cancer.
Kate outlined principles she wanted to instil in the boys - including treating girlfriends with respect, and not leaving it too long to make up after a row.
But she also asked him to help them enjoy simple pleasures such as finding a four-leaf clover, growing sunflowers and learning a musical instrument.
Kate, who died in January, asked St John to take the boys to Llantwit Major beach in South Wales where she went as a child, and to the Eiger mountain in Switzerland where he proposed.
Her heart-breaking wish list then instructed St John to buy a dining table so they could enjoy meals together, and always kiss the boys goodnight twice.
Kate found a lump in her breast in 2005 after oldest son Reef had survived an aggressive rhabdoid sarcoma.
After chemotherapy it was clear she could not be saved. St John, of Clevedon, Somerset, said: "One night she became really frightened she wouldn't make it through till morning so we stayed up and at 4am we drew up the wish list."
She noted down several more and St John said: "Losing Kate was devastating but now we still have an emotional tie. I've done as many as possible, we plan to do the lot."
Most touchingly, Kate said St John should find a partner so the boys grow up with a female influence. He said: "The most difficult is finding someone else. I've found my soulmate."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
100 THINGS TO DO WHEN I DIE - Mirror.co.uk
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