The advocate for New Zealanders mental health
BY Kent Johns

Nic Russell: How do you keep living after your child dies?

• 1 min read
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Nic Russell: How do you keep living after your child dies?
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Nic Russell has been through more than most — breast cancer, a heart transplant and Parkinson’s. None of it comes close to 2005, when her three-year-old daughter Kenzie died of bone cancer.

Even when she could no longer walk, Kenzie wanted to be alive. Nic has carried that with her ever since. It doesn’t mean pretending things are fine. She’ll have a pity party, but she won’t live there. She leans on good friends, cold water and dark comedy.

When Kenzie died, the professional support stopped. So Nic started Kenzie’s Gift, a charity which has since helped nearly 8,000 young New Zealanders whose parent or sibling is seriously ill or has died.

Hit play to hear who got Nic through the nights, and why she called her memoir Bollix.

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If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis

Kent Johns is a health coach, broadcaster and motivational speaker. Visit his website here. 

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