Living Fully, Loving Deeply: Julie Russell on Fraser’s Life

Join hosts Ali and Ros on Relational Lives for a deeply moving conversation with Julie Russell, who shares the tender and inspiring story of her son Fraser, born with a rare life-limiting genetic condition. From the shock of his diagnosis hours after birth to the profound care provided by their local children’s hospice, Julie reflects on the joy, love, and support that defined Fraser’s two short years.   With music therapy at the heart of their journey, she highlights how it brought connection, comfort, and celebration of life, even in the face of loss. Now, Julie and hospice music therapist Vicky have co-edited a powerful book amplifying family and practitioner voices in paediatric palliative care.   This episode is a heartfelt reminder to live fully in the moment and honour every life, however brief. Have tissues ready, this is a story of love, resilience, and legacy. Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & Honouring Fraser’s Story
• 02:01 – Julie’s Journey: Fraser’s Diagnosis at Birth
• 04:31 – From SCBU to St Thomas’ NICU: A Terrifying Start
• 06:15 – Bonding Through Crisis: “I Just Needed to Be With Him”
• 08:36 – Discovering the Children’s Hospice: A Turning Point
• 11:28 – Music Therapy: Building Connection and Joy
• 15:29 – Family Life at the Hospice: Sibling Support & Normal Moments
• 18:00 – Celebrating Fraser: Birthdays, Christmas, and Love
• 22:43 – The Final Days: A Peaceful, Supported End of Life
• 27:32 – Grief, Legacy, and Staying Connected to Fraser
• 36:26 – The Book: Collaborative Voices in Music Therapy & Palliative Care
• 40:11 – Why Family Stories Matter in Paediatric Palliative Care
• 43:34 – Co-Editing with Vicky: Honouring Lived Experience
• 46:02 – The Power of Music Therapy: Life-Changing for Families
• 47:57 – Closing Reflections: A Good Life, A Good Death
• 48:32 – Thank You & Call to Action

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Want to share your story or come on the show to discuss your dilemma? Write to us, and we might cover it in a future episode. Drop us a message at [e-mail] or anonymously complete our form here: https://forms.office.com/e/qcrCkbhPiT. We’d also love to hear updates if you’ve written in before. Subscribe for future episodes on trauma, attachment, and more mental health topics. If you found this episode helpful, please like this video or share it with a friend.   Links to the book: Music Therapy in Children’s Palliative Care Collaborative Family and Practitioner Voices https://tinyurl.com/5n833vtd: https://amzn.eu/d/83U3jqJ https://tinyurl.com/3ybk3bbw https://julesrussellillustration.co.uk/ - Jules Russell Illustrations   Disclaimer Please remember, this is not meant to be a replacement for personal therapy and is for information and self-reflection only. Please reach out to an appropriate professional in your area if you feel you need individualised help. Credits

• Hosts: Alison Bickers and Ros Peckham at www.mytempo.co.uk
• Music by: Stile Tree Studio
• Produced by: Synergy Podcast Studio