by orla blackburn | Jan 18, 2026 | blog, Grief Support, Personal Stories
Another Year, Another Layer This week marks my eighth birthday without Andy. I was 48 when he died—just a couple of months shy of 49—and this year, I’ll turn 56. For eight birthdays now, there’s been no “Happy Birthday, Orls” from the other side of the bed. No card...
by orla blackburn | Dec 29, 2025 | blog, Grief Support, Personal Stories
I thought Christmas Day would be the hardest. So I planned. I filled the day. I made sure it was loud and bright and full of people. I threw myself into the performance of “everything’s fine” because I couldn’t bear the thought of my little boy missing out on the...
by orla blackburn | May 9, 2025 | blog, Grief Support, Personal Stories, Personal Stories
There was a moment — not long after my husband died — when I was in a yoga class full of strangers and somehow ended up upside down. Knees on elbows. Head balancing on the floor. A tripod headstand. It lasted maybe two seconds. But it was the first time I’d felt...
