Rianna’s Story

I’m Rianna, I’m 28 and I lost my dad in 2023 at the age of 26. 

My dad, Ged, was my best mate. Even though I lived away, we talked every day, and he would visit me when he could and vice versa. He was my biggest supporter, my confidante, and my partner in crime - we were always laughing and joking together and we loved having a drink and some good grub together. Whenever I felt a certain way, he was the first to know and always had a listening ear for me. And he gave the best hugs ever! 

My dad was 66 when he died - he had COPD, a disease that affects the lungs and their ability to work. It varies from person to person, and is usually a result of a long history of smoking (as it was for my dad). He got pneumonia and was admitted to hospital, and after 6 of the longest weeks of my life, he unfortunately never made it out of there. 

The sudden nature of his passing completely knocked me off of my feet. My dad wasn’t in perfect health, but we had no idea it was so bad that we would soon lose him. It’s really hard to now navigate the world without the love and support he gave me every day, and even harder to think he won’t be here for any of my milestones. 

What it did teach me is that life is very short and fleeting - all the things that I used to spend energy and anxiety on, just don’t matter anymore. What matters is spending time with the people you love, doing what you love and trying not to regret anything. 

I came across It’s Time on Instagram and seeing other young people talk about their experiences helped me profoundly - losing a parent young can be such an isolating feeling, and the work the charity does is so important in helping people feel connected and seen in a time that can often be very lonely. 

I will be contributing to blog posts and talking more in depth about my experience of grief, ways I’ve dealt with it and continue to, and hopefully help others to feel seen and connected during their grief journey.