Josie's Journey

28/04/2026

One whole month without you 💔

Josie started this page to raise awareness about melanoma and help others. I’ve just had another message from a lady who stumbled across this page, got checked, got a melanoma diagnosis early enough, and prognosis looks good! That fills me with so much pride and happiness ❤️ another life saved - her reach has been unbelievable.

She was always open and honest about her journey, and found it therapeutic putting her thoughts into words - hoping it might help even one person. I understand that now. Getting things out helps quiet the constant replay in your head.

Death and grief are incredibly hard to talk about. Most people don’t know what to say or do, because unless you’ve lived it, you can’t fully understand.

Josie wanted me to continue this page, so I want to share what grief feels like for me, and what I’m learning, in the hope it might help even one person.

I started grieving a long time ago, while Josie was still here - when we were told there was nothing more they could do, and I had to face the reality of losing my little sister. Josie and I talked so openly about it, as we both needed that to process it. I thought I was prepared to an extent, but nothing prepares you.

Grief for me has been all-consuming - physically and emotionally. It’s relentless.

There’s a real physical pain to it. A heaviness that doesn’t lift. Anxiety that builds until it feels hard to breathe, like your heart is breaking. It’s not just in your mind - it lives in your body.

I feel waves of overwhelming emptiness and loneliness, which is one of the hardest things to make sense of. I know I still have so much, so many people around me, but there’s a deep void that no one can fill - because she’s the only one who truly understood our past and everything we went through

There’s so much anger - at how she was failed, at the world carrying on as if nothing has changed when ours has shattered. Anger at myself too - how is it fair I get a future she doesn’t? Even anger towards her for leaving us which is absolutely crazy because she wanted so badly to stay.

Guilt runs through everything - guilt for being here and having life she doesn’t, for feeling joy, for being sad and inflicting my pain on others, for not always being who I think I should be.

There’s helplessness, seeing the people you love in pain and not being able to fix it. Embarrassment for breaking down in public. Fear of seeing people, having conversations, of losing control.

There’s jealousy - and I hate that part as I’m not a jealous person by any means. A client told me today she was meeting her sister for lunch and I cried all the way home. God I wish I could have lunch with my sister!

The resentment, the endless “what ifs.” Numbness where I feel nothing. Brain fog where I can’t do the simplest task. Trauma from things you can’t unsee. Constant nightmares and flashbacks I can’t escape from.

A sense of failure for not being as strong as I should be. I’ve felt a loss of purpose, which doesn’t make logical sense because I do have so much purpose. But caring for her, supporting her, being there for her - that became such a central part of my life that now, without it, I feel lost.

And a deep exhaustion from feeling and masking that no amount of sleep and rest can fix.

These are just some of the parts people don’t always see.

But there are still moments of light. I feel so grateful for the people around me, and I have so much to be thankful for.

I’ve been taking the time to learn about grief and what it does to us. I’ve learnt that grief isn’t just emotional - it’s biological. When we lose someone so important, our nervous system goes into survival mode. To the body, it feels like a threat to everything that made the world feel safe and stable.

I’m learning to ask for help (she’d be so proud!), to slow down, and to accept this isn’t something to fix - it’s something we must carry. Grief isn’t weakness. It’s love, and it’s survival.

Josie taught me so much - about strength, resilience, and keeping going when things feel impossible. But also that, in the end when you’re facing your mortality, nothing really matters except your health, the people around you who you love, how you made others feel, and the memories you carry. Everything else is just things.

For anyone else deep in grief, feeling this - we’re not going crazy. We’re in survival mode. And as hard as it is to accept, this will never feel “okay,” and it does change us. I just hope, in time, it becomes a little easier for us to carry.

Please ask for help. Talk to someone. Don’t hold it all in and carry it alone. Take things one step at a time - just keep going like they would want us to.

And if you’re supporting someone who’s grieving, don’t pull away. Be there, listen, and don’t be afraid to talk about the person they’ve lost - they need that more than you know. ❤️

22/04/2026

Today should have been filled with your voice, your laughter, and the way you made everything feel special. Instead, it feels so quiet. There’s a space where you should be, and nothing can fill it.

Your baby girl turned 7 today. I kept thinking about how much you would have loved every second of it - the excitement, the smiles, the little moments that mattered most to you… making sure we took all the pictures and captured it all, just like you always did.

It’s so strange celebrating without you here. There’s a massive hole in all of this, and we feel it in everything we do.

But we are doing what you asked of us. We’re holding them close, making sure they know how loved they are, and trying our best to give them the kind of day you would have given them. That’s what’s keeping us going.

I just wish you were here. More than anything, I wish you were here.

You are missed every second of every day 🤍

16/04/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended Josie’s funeral today. Seeing so many of you there meant so much. Your presence brought comfort, strength, and a real sense of togetherness during such a difficult and emotional day.

We are deeply grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown, not just today but in the months and weeks leading up to this day. The kind messages, cards, flowers, and thoughtful gestures have meant so much to us and have been a great source of comfort.

It has been incredibly touching to see just how many lives Josie touched and how loved she was by so many. Hearing your memories and sharing those moments together will stay with us.

Thank you all for standing by us, for your kindness, and for keeping Josie in your thoughts. It truly means everything ❤️

15/04/2026

God, I miss you so much, Josie. My heart physically hurts.

My own grief feels unbearable, but I know it’s still nothing compared to what Laith and your girls are going through right now. I can’t begin to imagine that depth of pain.

Tomorrow we lay you to rest, and I will try to find some words - but they will never be enough. This isn’t fair, and I’m so angry and sad.

I haven’t just lost a sister. I’ve lost part of me - the keeper of secrets and memories, a part of my past, my present, and my future.

Grief is a strange, relentless thing. It can be quiet and gentle one moment, then overwhelming the next, catching me off guard. It lingers in the smallest things. Sometimes I convince myself you’re just away for a while, just to make it hurt a little less. I still catch myself waiting to see your name appear on my phone.

There is something uniquely devastating about losing a sibling. It’s not just the loss of a person, but the loss of a shared history - someone who stood beside you through every version of yourself.

We went through so much together, things only we truly understood. And without you, I feel a kind of loneliness and vulnerability I don’t know how to put into words.

But this isn’t just about what we’ve lost. You went through so much, more than most people will ever understand, and you carried it with a strength that will always stay with me. Even when things were hardest, you were still thinking of us - still worrying about how we would cope, facing this world without you.

That breaks my heart in a way I can’t explain, because you never had to carry that for us. You already carried so much.

Losing you has reshaped our world in a way I can’t explain. Everything looks the same, but nothing feels the same. There’s an emptiness that no words, no comfort, no well-meaning phrases can fill.

Because you weren’t just part of our life - you were woven into who we are. And now we’re left trying to figure out how to exist with that missing piece.

People talk about healing, about time softening the edges. Maybe it does, in some distant way. But right now, grief feels like love with nowhere to go.

I had a realisation that I’ll likely spend more of my life missing you than I ever got to spend with you… and that hurts more than I can explain.

We will never be able to say goodbye. So instead, we’ll carry you with us - in every story, every quiet moment, every piece of who we are that you helped shape.

You are still here with us in all the ways that matter most, even if we can’t see or hold you.

And we will miss you, always - every day, for the rest of our lives 💕💕

05/04/2026

Josie’s funeral will take place at The Park Crematorium on Thursday 16th April at 11am.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life, and in true Josie style, bright, casual clothing is encouraged. We hope to see as many of you there as possible to come together, share stories, and celebrate the joy and love she brought into our lives.

After the service, please join us in the on-site café for coffee, cake, and shared memories. There will be no official wake, as the family will be spending some time together afterwards.

Family flowers only, please. If you were planning to bring flowers, we kindly ask that you make a donation to St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth instead (in link below).

A tribute page has been set up where messages and memories can be shared.

Dedicated to the memory of Josie Hasan

02/04/2026

St Lukes Midnight Walk - July 10th 2026

Myself, along with my eldest daughter and best friends, will be walking 13.5 miles in memory of Josie.

If you’d like to join us, registration is now open on their website https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/midnight-walk/.

‘Our Midnight Walk is a chance to shine a light on all those very special people who are no longer with us, while striding forward to secure the future of our hospice services at home and in our specialist unit. Whether you do it for fun, for fitness or in memory, whatever the weather join us for a night to remember.’💛

Jade x

St Luke’s popular Midnight Walk will be back for 2026. Thank you for going that extra mile for our vital service in your community!

30/03/2026

The love that has poured in over these past few days has been nothing short of overwhelming. It has shone such a bright light on just how deeply she was loved, how admired she was, and the lasting imprint she’s left on so many hearts. It’s both beautiful and heartbreaking to witness.

So many of you have reached out to me, asking what you can do to help - and the truth is, you already have. Your messages, your kindness, your unwavering support… they meant everything. They brought her comfort, they brought her joy, and in some of her hardest moments, they reminded her just how cherished she was. You gave her strength, you lifted her spirits, and you helped turn her dreams into something real. That is a gift beyond words.

Right now, our hearts are with Laith and the girls as they begin to face a life that feels impossibly empty without her. For over three years, Laith stood beside Josie every single day - not just as her partner, but as her full-time carer, all while being the best dad to their daughters. He carried so much, and she carried so much worry for him… especially about how they would cope, how they would manage, how they would be okay.

The reality now is devastating. Alongside the unimaginable grief, there are very real and immediate challenges. The absence of life insurance has left an added weight (she had it but they screwed her over!!), one that no family should have to bear in a moment like this. And in just a matter of weeks, they are facing the loss of something as essential as their car - another burden in a time already filled with so much pain.

It’s hard to even comprehend what he is going through - the heartbreak, the responsibility, the fear of the unknown. No one should have to navigate this kind of loss while also worrying about how to keep life moving forward.

For those that want to help, I’ve set up a JustGiving page in the hope that we can ease even a fraction of this weight, and give Laith and the girls a little bit of breathing space during the darkest time of their lives.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you’ve already done - for your love, your compassion, and for standing with them when they need it most. 💔

Iʼm raising money to provide support.. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

29/03/2026

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share news we never wanted to write. Yesterday morning, our beautiful Josie passed away peacefully, with us by her side, holding her hands. She knew how deeply she was loved, and how much of a difference she made in this world.

In that moment, a robin appeared at her door, and I know it was a sign to let us know she is safe, and finally at peace.

People often say someone “lost their battle with cancer,” but that’s never felt right to us. It sounds like a win or lose situation, like she didn’t do enough. The truth is, Josie did everything and more. Cancer took so much from her, but it never took her spirit. For three long years, she faced it with strength, determination, and courage that most of us could never imagine.

She was, and always will be, the most incredible person. She touched so many lives, and the pain of losing her will be felt by so many. That alone shows just how special she was.

Even through everything, she wanted something good to come from this. She always said if she could help just one person avoid going through what she did, then it would mean everything. She has done that - and so much more. Her voice, her story, and her strength will continue to save lives.

So please, in her honour:
Check your skin.
If something doesn’t look right, get it checked.
If you’re not listened to, get a second or even third opinion.
Do not use sunbeds.
Protect your skin - wear SPF 50, even in winter.

Skin cancer is not “just skin cancer.” It can be deadly.

Thank you to every single person who supported her, followed her journey, and helped make her dreams come true. It meant the world to her, and it has meant everything to us as a family.

There will never be enough words to truly express our thanks to St Luke’s. The care they gave Josie was beyond anything we could have ever hoped for.

They didn’t just care for her, they cared for all of us. They welcomed us in, held us up in our darkest moments, and treated us like family.

They are, quite simply, angels on earth. 🤍

Her biggest worry was always her girls and Laith. She loves them more than anything. I know she will be watching over them, guiding them every step of the way. We will honour her by loving them, protecting them, and making sure they grow up knowing just how incredible their mum is.

Josie has left a legacy, and it’s up to all of us to carry it on. Live fully. Love deeply. Don’t take time for granted.

We love you forever, Jos - endlessly, fiercely, and always. No words will ever be enough to say how much you mean to us.

Until we see you again, our beautiful angel… you live in every heartbeat, every breath, and every memory we carry 🤍

18/03/2026

Hi everyone, Jade here.

I just wanted to share a small update.

Things have shifted over the past week or so, but Josie continues to fight - defying the odds with everything she has left in her. It’s impossible to put her strength into words.

This awful disease is so cruel and has taken almost everything from her. Right now, the priority is to protect every bit of energy she has so she can spend it with her girls and Laith.

This morning we managed to get outside for some vitamin D ☀️ and finished sorting through special gifts. Watching a mum try to put a lifetime of love into gifts her children can hold onto 💔

It was unbearably difficult, but she is doing everything she can. Thinking of everything. Loving them in every possible way she can. She will live on through them, and they will never forget how amazing their mum is, or how deeply she loves them - they will be reminded of that every single day.

To everyone who has sent messages, gifts, anything at all… thank you. I truly wish you could see what it means to her. In the middle of all this pain, she feels that love - and it matters more than I can ever say.

Nothing will ever replace their mum. Nothing ever could. But these pieces of love, these memories, these messages… they will stay with her girls, and they will grow up knowing how completely, how fiercely, and how unconditionally loved they are by her.

St Luke’s have continued to be incredible. Last week they arranged for Shetland ponies to come in for the girls - it was the most surreal experience! Seeing that moment of joy it brought to everyone here was just magic, something I don’t think any of us will ever forget.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to stay by her side and help care for her through this. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the greatest privilege of my life. We’ve had conversations I never imagined we’d be having, sharing fears I didn’t even know existed. Being here has completely changed my perspective on life and what truly matters.

We’re trying to focus our energy on remaining positive, to find gratitude in the little moments. But it’s so hard when those waves of anger, fear, and sadness hit, consuming every part of you.

I constantly question why this is happening - why someone so full of love is going through this - and it leaves a raw ache that doesn’t seem to fade.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for the kindness, support, and love you’ve shown Josie and all of us. It means more than you will ever know ❤️

02/03/2026