Cardiff Teenager Channels Grief into Poetry to Support Local Hospice
A young student from Cardiff is using her creative talents to support a vital local charity while honouring the memory of her beloved father. Lani Kirkman has published her debut poetry collection, titled '5,405 Days', with a portion of the proceeds being donated to City Hospice, Cardiff's dedicated hospice service.
A Personal Journey Through Loss
The poignant title of the book represents the exact number of days Lani shared with her father, Lee, before his passing in 2023. This deeply personal collection comprises 27 poems that navigate the complex emotional landscape of grief through the unique perspective of a teenage girl. The work thoughtfully explores the five established stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Lani's father, Lee, is remembered as a loving family man with a mischievous sense of humour. His passions included his career as a skilled gas engineer and fervent support for Manchester United Football Club. His life changed dramatically in 2022 when, without any prior symptoms, he suffered a seizure during the Easter bank holiday weekend. This led to the devastating diagnosis of a glioblastoma brain tumour.
Hospice Care and Family Support
In September 2023, Lee was transferred to the care of City Hospice for his final months, where he received specialist palliative care and counselling. During this immensely challenging period, both Lani, who was 14 at the time, and her mother Lucy also received crucial counselling support from the hospice charity. This compassionate care made a profound impact on the family.
Lani's poetry book represents her latest gesture of support for City Hospice. She has previously participated in several of the charity's fundraising initiatives, including the Sparkle Walk, Light up a Life campaign, and the Forever Flowers project.
Transforming Grief into Meaningful Action
Lani shared her motivation behind the project: "I wanted to write this poetry book in memory of my wonderful dad to raise awareness about what I've been through over the last few years. I carry my dad in my words; every page reflects what he means to me." She hopes her candid exploration of emotion will resonate with others experiencing loss. "People don't necessarily like talking about feelings, so by writing my emotions down, I hope I can allow others to relate to how I was feeling and know that their experiences of loss are also valid."
Reflecting on her journey, Lani added: "As a teenager, grief has been a challenging space to navigate, and it has shaped who I have become today. Some of the proceeds of '5,405 Days' will be going towards City Hospice for the care and counselling that they provided for myself and my family at such a difficult time."
Family Pride and Charitable Recognition
Lani's mother, Lucy Kirkman, expressed immense pride in her daughter's achievement. "It's not always easy expressing your own grief, but to be able to put those feelings down on paper is an amazing achievement," she said. "From being incredibly brave and standing by Lee's side during his illness to transforming her grief into something positive to help City Hospice continue the important work they do, I'm so proud of Lani."
Dr Liz Booyse, Chief Executive at City Hospice, commended Lani's courage and generosity. "It takes great courage to open up, particularly on difficult, and sometimes taboo, subjects like bereavement and grief. Lani's beautiful poems are honest and brave, and share the emotional complexity of the loss of a loved one." She continued: "We really appreciate Lani choosing to turn her grief into something so meaningful, helping others in a similar situation to relate and helping us to continue providing vital care for families across Cardiff by donating some of the proceeds of the book."
Supporting the Cause
'5,405 Days' by Lani Kirkman is now available for purchase, priced at £10. From each copy sold, a generous donation of £3.50 will be given directly to City Hospice, supporting their ongoing work providing essential palliative care and family support services throughout the Cardiff community.
