Thread by @jillpromoli

I was recently given well-meaning advice, to speak less about Jude, that talking about him too much could be seen as politicizing him.

"Have the courage to listen to their grief for as long as they want to talk about it."- @MaryFernando_
1/9

Read:
canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/governments-ne…

On May 6th it will be five years since I hugged my little boy.

When you lose someone, the world keeps moving, and people will get on with their lives around you. But your person is still gone, and your life is still changed.

2/9

4.5 years ago we made the choice to speak publicly about Jude's death with hope that by sharing him, we could protect someone else's family. We wished desperately that the conversation about illness prevention had been louder a year earlier, to save Jude.

3/9

Talking about preventable deaths is hard. These are deaths that could happen to any family, and they happen because, as communities - and our govts - we haven't done enough to protect ourselves and each other. It's sad, and it's the worst consequence of failing each other. 4/9

I wish this wasn't my story. I wish this wasn't my experience. I wish I was worried about all three of my children in their crowded classrooms with poor ventilation today, but only two are still here. I've already lost one to illness in the classroom.

5/9

No one ever tells you not to talk about your living children.

No one will tell me not to talk about my worry for my kids who are at school during a pandemic.

But some feel it's too much to talk about loss. Ours, and the 7013 Ontarians we've lost to #COVID19.

6/9

We need to talk about it. We need to see those lost lives and the loved ones they've left behind. We need to understand that grief doesn't end when the pandemic ends. Their chairs are empty forever, and if we don't see this loss now, we'll fail to do enough to prevent more.

7/9

I've been grateful every day to @jkwan_md for recognizing the lost lives during this pandemic, and I wish our government would do the same. These deaths should be acknowledged, and not swept under the rug, and every possible action should be taken to protect lives.

8/9

Jude's life was wonderful, but far too short. All I can do for him now is continue to love him, and speak his name loudly and hope that will help save someone else's grandpa, pregnant wife, or Jude.

That's not for 'points'. It's because his life was important. Everyone's is. 9/9