Pick Me Up! Special September 2018

Sometimes, strength comes to us in the darkest of times and we discover how powerful we can be. When Suzanne (pg54) was told that her brain tumour was terminal, she refused to be taken from her family. That determination means that she’s still making memories with them all today. Daisy (pg6) suffered terrible abuse when she was a child and thought she would never defeat the monster that haunted her dreams. But confronting her past has set her on a path to recovery. Brave Joanna (pg34) is also speaking out about the horror she went through in order to help other victims who might make the same mistake she did. When Crystal’s cat lost the use of his legs, she wasn’t giving up on him. Check out the amazing device…

Artist in the making My son Finn showing off his masterpiece at school. He’s so talented and I’m so proud of him! Eva, Lancaster What you lookin' at? Baby William is looking a bit suspicious of the big scary world around him. Luckily he’s surrounded by a big family who all love him so much – especially his auntie! Eileen, Chelmsford Daddy's girl Just your average day spent taking selfies with my amazing dad. He’s so much fun! Grace, Daventry Time to explore I love watching my little boy explore the world. It may just be the playground around the corner, but it’s a big wide world for him! Kristin, Grimsby Fox on the run I spotted this little guy out in…

Beware the cat thief Maggie is partial to my son’s baby blanket. I spent ages looking for it, and eventually found it here – right under her! Jo, Glasgow Proudly pink Hobson spent the afternoon at the parlour getting his hair cut and shampooed. They gave him a pink bow for good behaviour, and he’s showing it off proudly! Kim, Port Talbot Bunny beauty My rabbit Frankie loves taking a selfie. OK, maybe he doesn’t – but I love including him in my selfies! I just can’t resist a cuddle… Cassie, Marlborough…

Skipping up the drive to my grandma’s house, I shrieked with joy as I saw her coming to the door. ‘Hello my darling!’ she cooed, ruffling my hair. My parents had split when I was very young, so I would often go to stay with Dad and Gran on the weekend. Sometimes Dad would be away working, but I loved seeing Gran. We’d make cakes, play games and go to the park. She’d show me how to do arts and crafts and would give me endless streams of pens and papers to practise my drawing. I’d often cry on Sundays when it came time to leave. I loved my mum, but her house was always a more hectic environment and I really craved stability. My mum had a new boyfriend,…

My daughter Claire had such a bright future ahead of her. She was smart and creative, always making people laugh and had a beautiful singing voice. I loved how full of energy she always was. As well as being fun to be around, I was so proud of how well Claire was doing at school and I was confident she’d accomplish anything she set her mind to. ‘I want to be a forensic scientist, Dad,’ she told me. ‘I want to help solve crimes.’ When Claire finished school, she got a marketing degree and then started a PhD at Bristol University in biomedical science. But Claire was also vulnerable to making the wrong decisions in life and I worried constantly that it would be her undoing. For starters, she dated…

As blood trickled onto my workbench, I pushed the sharp scalpel into the rabbit's flesh and peeled its skin and fur away. I often get raised eyebrows when I tell people I'm a taxidermist, but the funniest reactions I get are when I go on to tell them I'm also a vegetarian! ‘Isn't that a contradiction?' people ask. But I don't think it is at all. For almost two years, I've shunned meat, and haven't struggled to reject the chicken, beef, and ham options on menus. My main reason for going veggie was that I just couldn't stand the way some animals are cooped up in tiny pens and raised for slaughter. But taxidermy is different – I only work with animals that are already dead. It's not like I…