A woman who lost her husband and two children in a horrific tragedy in Co Donegal has spoken about how she still lives from hour to hour after her huge loss.
Geraldine Mullan’s life was left in pieces four years ago.
She was the sole survivor after the car in which she was travelling with her family left the road and entered Lough Foyle at Quigley’s Point on August 20th, 2020.
Tragically, she lost her son Tomás (14), daughter Amelia (6) and husband John (49) in an instant.
Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of the tragedy which occurred when the family were returning home to Moville after a day out in Derry.
In a touching post on her Facebook page, nurse Geraldine said she has heard people say that time is a healer but admits that she often lives hour to hour without her beloved family.
She said “They say time is a healer” a phrase/quote I’ve heard many times over these past 4 years, but not one I would agree with.
“Today marks the 4th anniversary of losing my beloved John Tomás and Amelia and my heart aches just as much today as it did from the start, & I know it will always ache with every heartbeat.
“As I’ve navigated my grief journey, I’ve learned it’s having good friends & family around me that has propped me up when I needed it most, held my hand, dried my tears, sat with me in silence & let me be me, whatever that maybe with no judgement. There’s no right or wrong way to deal with grief
“There’s no set path, it’s just a day at a time, sometimes hour by hour and on days like today especially, it’s moment to moment and simply putting one foot in front of the other and just breathe.
“The pain & heartache never go away. It becomes part of who I am, and I will never get over it, I will just learn to live with it over time.”
She added that life is for living and that she knows her beloved John, Tomás & Amelia would want her live life to the fullest.
Geraldine revealed how she took part in the Extreme North Quadrathon – 4 half marathons over 4 consecutive days over different parts of the Inishowen Peninsula.
She said this, and everything she does, is for her late family.
She revealed “There were times I wanted to stop or give up because it was just too much….very much like my grief journey these past 4 years, but I didn’t. I just took it one step at a time.
“As I crossed that finish line on Sunday afternoon, I was doing it in their memory as everything I do now is for the 4 of us but also for myself like they’d want me to.”
And she pleaded with her family to continue to be with her as she makes her life journey without them.
“Today I walked the Stairway to Heaven boardwalk for the four of us (what we were supposed to do on 20th August 2020) and at the top, I remembered your words Amelia about the 4 corners of my heart and how you, daddy and TT are in three corners so I placed my hand over my heart & held you all close. Wrap your arms around me from heaven above and continue to be by my side and in my heart. All my love Mummy/your Galway girl, aka Geraldine.”
