Immediately after hearing the heartbreaking news, Sheena, 59, called Lauren\u2019s identical twin sister Charlie, her son Alex, 24, and Lauren\u2019s partner, Jake. All were understandably blindsided and shocked by her tragic passing. <\/p>\n
Sheena shares, \u201cI still feel sad thinking about everything Lauren was robbed of, especially after finding love with Jake. They were blissfully happy and had signed a lease on their first house together a few days before her accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheena’s 27-year-old daughter, Lauren. Photo \/ Woman’s Day<\/p>\n
Before Lauren\u2019s death, Sheena was already in \u201csurvival mode\u201d after losing her Merivale restaurant, Maison de Crepe, a few weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI put seven years of my life, and all my blood, sweat and savings, into the business. I was sure it was going to be a success, then Covid hit. It was devastating to put the restaurant into voluntary liquidation. I felt like a failure and that I\u2019d let everyone down, including myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
With no income, savings or house, which she\u2019d sold to fund the restaurant, Sheena went into real estate, although her heart wasn\u2019t in it. Her relationship also ended shortly after Lauren\u2019s funeral and she lost her beloved 14-year-old dog Alfie a couple of months later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always believed the universe had my back, but I completely lost faith after everything that happened,\u201d admits Sheena, who gave up real estate soon after and didn\u2019t work for a year as she negotiated her grief.<\/p>\n
Despite feeling \u201cdesolate\u201d, there was a reserve of strength deep within.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin a few weeks of Lauren\u2019s accident, I remember saying, \u2018I\u2019m not going to be a victim to my grief or let it define me,\u2019 even though it\u2019s a hard journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losing a child isn\u2019t something you get over, says Sheena. Photo \/ Woman’s Day<\/p>\n
She also wondered if she\u2019d ever become the high-functioning, energetic woman she used to be and eventually realised she wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a different woman now. Losing a child isn\u2019t something you get over. I\u2019ll always be Lauren\u2019s mum, but I don\u2019t want to be defined only as a grieving mother. That\u2019s part of who I am, but it\u2019s not all of who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n