Bradley Lowery’s mother Gemma has revealed the family will celebrate Christmas abroad, as they prepare for their first festive season without him.
The six-year-old passed away in July after losing his battle with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.
Gemma and footballer Jermain Defoe, who was one of Bradley’s biggest supporters, appeared on ITV’s Loose Women on Monday.
Gemma said it was a difficult time of year for the family, watching everyone around them get excited about Christmas.
“It’s still very early days. It’s not been long,” she said.
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“Christmas has always been a massive part of our family. We love Christmas, we do all the presents, the family time, so Christmas is difficult,” she said.
“As each day goes on it gets harder to get up, to look at my friends, seeing them put up their trees, open advent calendars with their children…”
Gemma explained that the family – herself, husband Carl and son Kieran – will jet overseas for December 25.
“We will go away on holiday and not do the traditional Christmas this year,” she said.
“It’s a totally different experience. It’s so raw for us this year that we need to keep ourselves safe in terms of our emotions and try to keep positive. We still have Kieran and have to do something, but we want to change it around a bit so it’s not normal.”
Gemma added: “We are doing okay, considering. I focus a lot on the foundation; that’s what gets me up in the morning.
“We have our good days and our bad days. I’m very lucky because I did get a chance to say goodbye. I got a chance to make so many beautiful memories and I was there at the last breath.
“Some people don’t have a chance to do that.”
The Bradley Lowery Foundation helps other families who need to fundraise for medical costs, with Gemma saying she also wants to provide support and tips to families and hand out grants.
Gemma spoke warmly of Jermain’s support, which began when Bradley served as a mascot for a Sunderland football game.
Describing his first meeting with Bradley, Jermain said: “I got told before the game that a little kid was coming in and I was his favourite player. From that first moment we had an instant connection.
“When Brad walked into the changing rooms, I couldn’t believe his energy, he was running around and ran over to me; a lot of the time kids are quite shy and standoffish and don’t want to come forward, but with Brad it was completely different.”
Jermain added: “It’s hard to explain it – when he saw me, that look, that instant connection. I remember he was telling me about the boots he had on, the same as mine. His energy was special.”
Gemma said Jermain’s support had been “extremely important” to the family.
“He made my little boy smile,” she said. “He’s so precious to us now as he’s made Bradley’s last months fantastic and we will treasure that forever.”
They’ve kept in touch with Gemma saying she’s very good friends with Jermain’s girlfriend. “We have that connection because of Bradley and it will always continue.”
Gemma shared a touching story showing just how important Jermain was to Bradley.
She said: “Bradley was obviously a very poorly child; everybody has seen his smiley face as that was his personality, but he had a tough couple of years. At the very end of his life he was just lying there – it was a waiting game.”
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“One day Jermain came up to the house at about 11 o’clock at night,” she continued.
“Bradley hadn’t moved all day. He had laid in the same spot giving cuddles – until he heard Jermain’s voice. I didn’t say Jermain was coming in case something happened, but when he heard Jermain’s voice, he opened his eyes, shouted and moved for him to give him a cuddle.”
Many viewers took to social media to praise both Gemma and Jermain, and share how Bradley’s passing had affected them.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.