The experience of one mother at Lancaster was so very different to mine.The graduation ceremony opened with Sir Chris Bonnington paying tribute to Ryan Rostron, a student who should have been graduating. Tragically, Ryan was killed in a car accident in May 2013, just after handing in his final dissertation. Ryan was just 22. He was awarded a posthumous degree.
![Ryan1[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNE9TOYM5gOULuPcPnRlCJnSLku0SBErSzuZyUWCpf0zcI8IhlHXCDTO_frVcsFBCF8oYFBC4LPiJ7EJUhsNpOp-qbhTCl8HPjL3vLQZgrxM4lN66khXWOEMbBKi3DO6zVL6uX1CFbjM12/s1600-h/Ryan1%25255B1%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "Ryan1[1]")
At the end of the award ceremony Ryan’s mother and sister were called to the stage to collect his degree. They received massive applause from the congregation.
I was very moved by their courage. How difficult must it have been for them to take centre stage in the midst of such happiness when they must have been been feeling such great loss mixed with enormous pride in Ryan’s achievements..
Tom didn’t know Ryan, but I found out that Ryan had faced challenges in his young life. He suffered from dyslexia so to have been awarded a degree was no mean feat, and needed to work to help to pay his way through University.
As parents we are prepared to do almost anything for our children but I’m not certain that I could have shown the bravery and courage of Ryan’s mother.
We were sitting just behind the family. I salute them for applauding the success of others whilst going that extra mile for Ryan. Accepting his award with grace, strength and quiet dignity.
I am counting my blessings, tears streaming down my cheeks with sympathy for a woman I don’t know, but with whom I feel an invisible connection.
Thank you for this post- may God bless and comfort Ryan's family- and teach us to appreciate the blessings we have. Our children may cause us anxiety at times- but we still have them with us.x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela. There but for the grace of God...
DeleteI can understand your emotional reaction to this Gaynor. Your post has made me cry. I cant imagine how hard it must have been for that mother...how completely tragic. Jx
ReplyDeleteI suppose everything is relative to losing your son, but it must have taken it's emotional toll.
DeleteI'm sure that besides being upset I might also be angry.... thinking why us? The family were so dignified.
That was incredibly brave of them. What a tragedy for the family.
ReplyDeleteThey were, Criag, which is why I felt moved to acknowledge their loss.
DeleteSorry, Craig - I type too fast!!
DeleteHumanity in the face of adversity. I too would have cried. Such a very proud moment for the family to acknowledge Ryan, to celebrate the accomplishment of his work, to value his struggle to prove that dyslexia is not a sign of unintelligence and to honour as well as mourn his life and death amidst their own inner turmoil. Life is precious, fragile, vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely put. Your lovely words describe my feelings. Thank you.
DeleteHow very tragic. I doubt that I would have been as brave as his mother, what a woman!
ReplyDeleteI too have filled up on reading this, Gaynor and would not have been able to hold back the tears on the day had I been there. Unbearably sad but in its way, probably a 'vital' day for Ryan's family. It will have added such a poignant edge to the whole day, I suspect.
ReplyDeleteAxxx
Gaynor you have made me cry as well.......
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