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Remembering Ruby@KindlyLoudly · Sep 13, 2026

Just over seven years ago, we had a totally normal, lovely day trip to the seaside. We took the train to Whitstable,…

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Summary

A parent shares the story of a beloved seaside trip to Whitstable seven years ago with their daughter Ruby, not knowing it would be their last carefree family day before Ruby was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. More than seven years later, they returned to the same spot to honor Ruby's memory and find healing, encouraging others to cherish moments and make memories with loved ones.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

  1. #1

    Just over seven years ago, we had a totally normal, lovely day trip to the seaside. We took the train to Whitstable, ate oysters at the harbour, paddled in the sea, pottered around the shops and had ice cream. A gorgeous, carefree family day. 🧵 1/8

  2. #2

    2/8 Except it wasn’t entirely carefree. Ruby had been feeling unwell, with odd symptoms that doctors assured us were allergies. (Those who knew her will notice her face looked a bit puffy in these photos. We thought it was the allergies...)

  3. #3

    3/8 We hoped a day by the sea might somehow calm the allergic response. It didn’t. Because, of course, it wasn’t an allergic response. But despite everything, we had a really lovely day.

  4. #4

    4/8 Just over a week later, Ruby was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. And that Whitstable trip turned out to be our last carefree family day out. Ruby’s last ever trip to the seaside.

  5. #5

    5/8 It became our last family memory untouched by the terror of knowing your child has cancer. And untouched by the indescribable pain of losing her. We hadn’t been back to Whitstable since. It felt too much.

  6. #6

    6/8 Last week, more than seven years later, we plucked up the courage to go back. We ate oysters at the harbour. We paddled in the sea. We pottered around the shops. And, of course, we had ice cream. 🍦

  7. #7

    7/8 There was sadness. A big old side-order of melancholy. But there was happiness too. Going back made me feel closer to that lovely day - and closer to Ruby.

  8. #8

    8/8 If you can, take the day trip. Paddle in the sea. Eat the oysters. Wander around the shops. Make the memories. And if you fancy an ice cream - have the damn ice cream ❤️ #Whitstable #RememberingRuby #LiveKindlyLiveLoudly

  9. #9

    Thanks for all the lovely messages! Next month, in Ruby's memory, 20 of us hope to become the largest team ever to complete the London Tube Challenge in 1 day. If anyone would like to sponsor us, we're raising money for childhood cancer research 🙏❤️ justgiving.com/team/tubechall…