This memorial website was created in the memory of our little girl, Rachel Drury who was born in United Kingdom on November 22, 1995 and passed away on March 30, 2004 at the age of 8. We will
remember her forever.


            
             




                                        



Rachel came into our lives at 3.52pm on 22 November 1995. She arrived 3 days late and was a healthy and hefty 9lb 2oz at birth. She was the younger of our two children. Her older sister Laura was then 41/2 years old. 

   
Our family was complete and we soon settled into a kind of routine.

Rachel was always the kind of child who wanted to be noticed. She was not the quiet kind who would sit in her bedroom reading a book (unlike her older sister). She was a bit of a tomboy, refused point blank to wear dresses or have anything to do with the colour pink. Her favourite colour was purple. Once she was old enough to be allowed to play out she could usually be found at a boys house, leaving her scooter (and later her bike) outside so I knew just where she was. She loved her 'big bike'. I used to look out of the window and see her flying down the road, always on the wrong side, with her hair streaming backwards. She had little fear. Before she had her own 'big bike' she used to pester her sister to give her a 'backie' on her bike. The faster they went the more Rachel thought it was great. 
   



     Our house was always noisy and full of girls' chatter and frequent arguments.
The rush for them both to get home from school, to be the first to decide which side the television was going on. You could bet they both wanted to watch different sides. For some reason, Rachel invariably won these arguments.

When Rachel was 7 she decided she wanted to join a disco dance class, and she went every Saturday afternoon. She quickly made friends with one of the other girls and the two of them were amongst the best in the class. Rachel's balance and sense of rhythm were excellent and she thoroughtly was enjoying herself. 

                                         
                                              

She also joined Brownies in April 2003 and was beginning to enjoy that. She had just taken her Brownie Promise when a few weeks after things started to go wrong. She was complaining of headaches and seemed to be not her 'usual self'.

Our lives were shattered shortly after on 26 July 2003 in a quiet hospital room. We were told Rachel had an incurable brain tumour, a growth seated deep inside her brain, and was the deadliest and most aggressive kind of brain tumour she could have. The most hope we could be given was that everything would be done to made her comfortable and hopefully buy her some quality time for as long as possible.

That was exactly what we got. Radiotherapy curtailed the tumour for a few months, but was not enough to stop its relentless march.

Looking back our lives fell apart on that date and we started to grieve for Rachel from the date of diagnosis. In a split second I knew our lives would never ever be the same again whatever the outcome. The treatment given to our lovely daughter gave us an extra 8 months with her.

Rachel fell asleep for the last time on Tuesday 30 March 2004 in a lovely children's hospice called Derian House, in Chorley. Her mummy and daddy were at her bedside.

We as a family miss Rachel with all our heart and know that we will always do so. However, we feel so proud that we were chosen to be her mummy and daddy for all too short a time. We feel sure that one day we will all be together again. 
   

A life lost
I have lost a life -not my own
but it would have been easier to have lost my own life
than to have lost the life i loved more than my own.



         

Treasured memories please don't be unhappy,
Because I'm out of sight.
Remember I am with you, morning, noon and night.
The day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me ,
And said 'I welcome you'
When you're walking down the street,
And you've got me on your mind.
I'm walking in your footsteps, just half a step behind.
An when you feel a gentle breeze, or the wind upon your face.
That'me giving you a great big hug,
Or just a soft embrace.
And when it's time for you to go,
From your body to be free.
Remember where you're going you are coming here to me.
God gave me a list of things he wished for me to do,
And priority on that list is to watch over all of you.

   


                                                 
My Precious Daughter

Heaven made an angel

Then sent her from above

Just to be my Daughter

And fill my world with love.

All the joy I ever needed

           Was captured in her smile,         
                                               
                      She filled my world with sunshine                 

       If only for a while.         

        Although I thought there'd never be

   A time we'd have to part,

       When heaven took my angel back

   They left a broken heart. 
                                          



 
 
    A Message to my Daughter

We walked together, you and I

A Mother and her Daughter

We had Hopes and Dreams for tomorrow.....

But tomorrow didn't come.

We walked together you and I

We talked, we laughed we loved.

We shared so many happy times,

And for that I thank the Lord above.

We walked together, you and I

But only for a short time.

For all too soon it ended

Leaving pieces of a broken heart behind

And even though I miss you

More than words could ever say.

I thank God that I got to walk with you

Every precious moment of every day....
                                    



Thank you for taking the time to read Rachel's website.  Please light a candle for her so we know you have been.