Our Lives
My daughter and I were heading out for her 40th bir thday treat when she fell ill. What happened next will haunt me forever.
Taking a deep breath, I blew into the last balloon and tied the end into a knot.
‘Lynn will be so shocked,’ I giggled, as I stood back and admired my handiwork.
I’d neatly laid out my daughter’s birthday presents on the table, stuck up banners and prepared some buffet food. To celebrate her 40th birthday, Lynn thought we were having a small family get-together.
But because it was a milestone, I’d decided to host a surprise party at my house in Chatham, Kent, and invite all our friends too.
Lynn’s partner Steve and son Liam, 20, were in on my plan. Once all the guests had arrived, I gave them the nod to bring her over.
Hearing them knock at the door, I told everyone: ‘They’re here!’
Quietly, everyone gathered in the hallway, waiting to see the shock on Lynn’s face.
When I opened the door, everyone yelled: ‘Surprise!’
‘Oh my God, you’re all crazy nuts!’ Lynn gasped, then burst out laughing.
We had a blast partying until late, dancing and playing games.
A few days later, I went with Lynn and her brother Kevin, 37, to watch a live wrestling match. The tickets were a birthday present from Liam, who knew she was a big WWE fan.
Afterwards, her favourite wrestler walked past the crowd and when he got to Lynn, he shook her hand.
‘Oh, wow!’ she said, awestruck.
Liam had also got her tickets to a book signing with her favourite actor Sam Heughan and she asked me to go with her.
‘I can’t wait to see him in the flesh,’ she said, excitedly.
‘I know you can’t,’ I replied, knowing she had a huge crush on him.
Lynn and I lived on the same street, so when the day of the book signing came around a week later, she popped over at 2pm as planned.
We were about to head off to the train station, but suddenly she looked pained.
‘Mum, my chest hurts. I think I’m having a heart attack,’ she said, clutching at her chest.
‘Quick, come and sit on the sofa,’ I replied.
I was medically trained, so I fetched my stethoscope and checked her pulse.
‘Your heartbeat is normal,’ I told her.
‘I did fall asleep on the sofa last night, so I could have slept funny,’ she said.
‘Do you still want to go to the signing?’ I asked.
‘Yes, definitely!’ she replied. Kevin had offered to drive us to the station, so I called him and he came to get us.
But in the car, Lynn didn’t look right.
‘Quick! I think I’m going to be sick,’
