Autobiography

The incident happened one summer’s day, as
we were having a drink with some friends on
the terrace. It was only yards from the pool,
which could only be reached down some steps
and was not visible from where we were
sitting. I suddenly realised that Vanessa was
nowhere to be seen and having not got a
response when I called her name, I headed for
the pool area to see if she was there. When I
arrived, my attention was instantly drawn to
bubbles on the surface of the water. To my
horror, I saw Vanessa lying at the bottom of
the pool face up but lifeless with her eyes
open. I jump in, grab her and brought her to
the surface; thankfully she spurted, coughed
and burst into tears. Five minutes later she
was running around the garden as if nothing
had happened. But I still break out in a cold
sweat when ever I think of that incident.
In Jacqueline’s case she now has this lifechanging
role of parenthood all in front of her,
after she blessed me with my first
grandchildren, Scarlett and Alfie, on 5th of
May, 2009. After years of trying for a baby and
following three unsuccessful IVF treatments,
Jacqueline and her fiancé, Dan Cunningham
now her husband, had begun to lose all hope
of having a child. Imagine their delight, and
that of those close to them, when she emerged
from yet another IVF treatment, this one in the
United States, pregnant with twins at the age
of 48.
Then came a nightmare which was to become
almost unbearable. Twelve weeks into her
pregnancy it was discovered that Alfie had a
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