Alongside national holidays and anniversaries, the birthday of someone you’ve lost is always a difficult one – particularly when it is the first after they’ve passed.
So our hearts go out to Louis Tomlinson as he leads tributes to his lovely mum Johannah Deakin who would have been 44 today.
The singer posted a simple but powerfully touching message on Twitter: “Happy birthday Mum. I love you x”.
Meanwhile, his younger sister wrote on Instagram: “Happy birthday mummy, I can’t put in to words how much I miss you but I know your are [sic] looking over us and protecting us all.
“Thank you for always being there for me… I hope your safe and having a nice birthday filled with fun.
“I hope I have made you proud and continue to and I love you billions, I will never forget you…”
Johannah’s sister-in-law Sally shared: “Happy Birthday Jay… You’re missed by so many every day xxxxxxxx.”
Sally will be running the London Marathon next month in honour of Johannah’s memory, raising money for the Bloodwise charity.
Mum-of-seven Johannah lost her battle with cancer in early December, leaving behind Louis, 23, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both aged two.
A statement released by her family explained: “It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin’s family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016.
“Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukaemia that required immediate and continuous treatment.
“We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private.”
The following weekend Louis touched everyone watching The X Factor as he honoured a long-standing arrangement to make his first performance as a solo artist on the show.
After the routine he blew a kiss to Heaven.