A REDDITCH resident is giving back to grieving families by creating paintings that remind families of their loved one they have lost.
Dan Doughty lost his daughter, Isla-Rose Margaret Doughty on 25th March 2021 after she was born prematurely.
Dan said: “She spent her entire time in the NICU at Birmingham Women’s hospital until the 25th where myself and her mother had to make the decision to turn her machine off, she lived for only 18 days.
“I unfortunately only got to hold my daughter three times in that time due to her being so small and fragile.
“I thought she would continue to grow and would eventually come home so I started to paint a princess castle on her nursery wall.
“However she passed away and I finished that painting for her despite her never being able to see it.”
Dan suffered greatly with his grief, and didn’t know what to do with himself after the funeral.
“I went back to work and months went by, I thought I could deal with the loss myself and keep it hidden inside me, however grief started to take over and I realised I couldn’t cope on my own anymore, I was a broken man.”
Dan started an instagram account under the name @grievingdaddy where he talked openly about his daughter, his feelings, mental health and to find other parents that had been through the same experience.
“I’m not sure what gave me the idea to paint pictures but I suddenly found myself buying canvas‘s, paints and brushes, and so despite having never painted since school I just gave it a go.
“Each painting I have done is unique in that they represented something that the parents associated with their child.
“I wanted to give something back to those that have gone through the same pain of loosing a child and this has helped me honour my daughter Isla-Rose, I will never be truly be myself again but I hope I can help others like me.”
Visit @grievingdaddy on instagram to view Dan’s work.
