Introduction

My reason for writing this story, I have met women who have married into the merchant navy with all it entails. I have met others who have lived in Iran and in other countries. I have known families who have experienced the death of children. I have met others who lived with cystic fibrosis and other genetic incurable illnesses and disabilities. I have seen television programmes of children being treated in Great Ormond Street Hospital. I know of lots of people who have adopted children for one reason or another. I have, however, never met anyone who experienced every one of these except my husband and I, and all of it in a ten-year span of life.