An Edinburgh mum has opened up on her grief process after tragically losing her son at the age of seven.
Ethan Hunter was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer tumour on his right shoulder in 2021 at the age of four, just a few months after the birth of his twin brothers, Harvey and Ronan.
In July 2023, the brave boy was then diagnosed with a secondary cancer around his brain and down his spine with his family being told he may only have a few weeks left. However, after a three year battle with cancer, Ethan sadly passed away at around 1.30am on July 14, 2024.
As the family approach his birthday at the end of April. his mum Kimberley Hunter, 35, is preparing to take on a sponsored skydive alongside his support teacher, Amanda Brand.
Ethan and Amanda
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she said it’s a way of her “coping with grief” and it will hopefully work as a distraction around her son’s birthday.
She said: “This is normally the time of year, after Christmas, where I would start thinking about his birthday and getting his present and cake and things sorted.
“This is the first birthday we have without him and I am doing it to distract me really and to give me something else to talk about rather than his birthday.
“It has all been really hard, I keep trying to move forward but it comes in waves and the slightest thing can trigger the grief.
“Over time I have realised it’s okay to stop and just breathe for a moment which isn’t my personality at all so it’s all been such a process for me.”
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Kimberley is hoping to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer due to the amount of support they have been offered since day one.
She said: “With Fraser and I having to give up our jobs, they really helped take the pressure of us. The support worker would take all of our stress on her plate and it really made such a difference.
Ethan passed away at the age of seven
“I just want to give back to them really because I really don’t know where I would be without them.
“I have never done anything like this before. I don’t have a fear of heights or anything but I really will be pushing myself out my comfort zone.
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“Ethan had a teddy that was really important to him – Mr Ribbons – and I am hoping I can take him with me and tuck him into my jumpsuit so it’s like Ethan is there with me.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.