Teen Turns Grief Into Poetry to Support Cardiff Hospice
By Charities Correspondent
A Cardiff teenager has transformed her experience of loss into a poetry book, with proceeds helping to support City Hospice and the care it provides to local families.
Student Lani Kirkman has released her debut poetry collection, 5,405 Days, with some of the money raised being donated to Cardiff’s local hospice.
The title reflects the number of days Lani shared with her dad, Lee, and the book explores grief from a teenage perspective.
The collection includes 27 poems that follow the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — capturing Lani’s emotions after losing her dad in 2023.
Lee, a devoted father and husband, was known for his cheeky sense of humour, his work as an experienced gas engineer and his love of Manchester United. He was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in 2022 after suffering a seizure during the Easter bank holiday weekend, despite having shown no previous symptoms.
Lee spent his final months under the care of City Hospice, where he received specialist palliative care and counselling. Lani, who was 14 at the time, and her mum Lucy were also supported by the hospice’s counselling services.
Lani has continued to support City Hospice in a number of ways, including taking part in events such as Sparkle Walk, Light up a Life and Forever Flowers.
Lani said:
“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. 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.
“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.”
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Her mum Lucy Kirkman said:
“It’s not always easy expressing your own grief but to be able to put those feelings down onto paper is an amazing achievement. 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, said:
“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.
"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.”
