By sharing his story, a professional football player who lost both of his parents hopes to assist others who are facing similar challenges.
Danish midfielder Emi Marcondes, 29, was coping with the loss of his father, Kim, who died last summer, just before he signed for Norwich City in October.
Marcondes was just 17 years old when his mother, Marília, passed away 12 years earlier.
She had left the rest of her family in Denmark to seek treatment for her alcoholism in her native Brazil.
When Marcondes reflected on his father’s passing, he told ITV News Anglia: “It was really difficult to lose dad this summer since he was a man I always looked up to.
However, I believe I am now strong enough to even lose my best buddy. He was the one I spoke to after games, so it’s still quite difficult that he’s not here.”
At first, Marcondes struggled to cope with his mother’s passing as a teenager.
But as time went on, he claims he “came to terms with it” and eventually dedicated a number of tattoos on his left arm to her memory.
“I eventually forgave her. She loved us and she was a good person,” he said. “She tried to do everything she could and that was when I thought that she’s still given me life and she’s done a good job. That’s when I thought that my left-arm is going to be dedicated to her.”
Marcondes, who has also played for Bournemouth and Brentford, was the special guest at a mental health awareness evening held at the Carrow Road this week in which he spoke at length about the impact that bereavement has had on his life. The annual event, which is organised by volunteer group, Norwich City Fans Social Club, was attended by more than 200 guests, as well as more than 20 local charities.
An estimated 46,300 children under the age of 17 lose a parent each year, or about 127 every day, according to Child Bereavement UK.
These are the kinds of startling statistics that made Marcondes decide to come forward and let people know they’re not alone.
“If I can be open about it and help other people, that will make me happy,” he stated.
“I think my losses have taught me to be grateful for every day because we don’t know how long we’re going to be here for.”
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