Brian Dowling shared an emotional tribute to his beloved mother Rosie on the sixth anniversary of her death.
Rosie passed away from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in 2018.
Brian shared the post with the caption: “Love & Miss you Mum on your 6th Anniversary.”
He went on to say: “Hi mum. Six years today since you were taken from us. Nine hours before this catastrophic loss, we were messaging as normal, you at home watching the soaps and me in LA.
“That flight home alone to say goodbye to you still haunts me and will forever. The pain, the shock, the utter panic and the crippling fear of what was ahead of me. The trauma of losing you is still something I struggle with.
“I tell myself I’ve made friends with grief as it makes my day-to-day life much easier.”
He went on to say: “So much has happened in the past six years. When Arthur and I found out we were going to be parents, I told myself, ‘I can’t wait to tell mum’. I had to remind myself you weren’t there.
“This has happened many times in the past six years. The day Blake was born, September 1st 2022, is one of the happiest days of our lives.
View this post on Instagram
“I’m not a jealous person at all but when Arthur FaceTimed his mum Maria to let her know Blake was safe and sound, I was filled when jealousy and this weird feeling. I wanted to FaceTime you and introduce you to your beautiful new grandmother.
“Maria is an amazing grandmother to Blake and they are besties. The mere mention of your name to Maria brings her to tears.”
He continued: “We all went to your grave a few weeks later. I talk to Blake about you every day. She now recognises you in every pic and kisses you. It breaks my heart that she will never be able to hug you.
“I believe you guided Blake to us and kept Aoife safe during her pregnancy. You have been a grandmother three times over with the arrival of Harvey, Blake and Jesse. How you would have loved them and spoiled them.
He concluded: “We find such solace that you passed in your sleep in the safeness and comfort of you own bed with no pain or fear.
“There is a sadness and longing now in me forever. Being a dad has brought me so much love, light, hope and happiness into my life.
“My god, mum, you managed with seven of us like it was a walk in the park. You are incredible and missed beyond words.”
He was met with beautiful messages from his friends, with his husband Arthur writing: “Tu nous manques à tous très très fort,” which translates to, “We all miss you very very much.”
His sister Aoife commented: “6 years gone and it still doesn’t seem real. LOVED and misses so much every day.”
“Sending you and your family love,” Síle Seoige told him.
