SWNSNathan Phillips, 19, and Luke, 13, lost both their parents in . the space of just two short years, leaving the pair – who have no living grandparents – to fend for themselves.
Their mum Anita lost her life to cancer in 2016 when she was just 53 years old, and their dad David died in a head-on collision with a truck just three months ago.
SWNSFor Nathan there is no more partying or going out with his mates, he says:
I’ve got to focus on looking after Luke now. When he was first in hospital we had to keep telling him Dad was okay. It was pretty hard seeing Luke like that.
He thought Dad was okay when he was in A&E. We had to keep telling him it was all right. Telling Luke that Dad died was the worst thing I’ve ever had to do.
The doctors said if we’d told him straight away he’d have panicked and he wouldn’t have been able to go into surgery.
SWNSHe also lost a lot of the skin on his foot, and needed a skin graft from the top of his leg on to his foot. Nathan has nursed Luke on the path to recovery while still grieving for both their parents himself.
He managed to get himself a better-paid job, having swapped pot-washing work for a position at Aldi. Then he got to grips with running a household – paying bills, doing the chores, and looking after them both.
The tragedy has been life-changing for the 19-year-old, he said:
I used to spend more time with my mates. I’d be out in my car all the time or on my Xbox. I can still do those things now – but not so much.But he remains positive and strong for his little brother.
I’ve got the washing up, to do, the laundry, the shopping, making sure Luke’s uniform and my work stuff is sorted. I feel as if I have been left to do everything by myself.
Speaking for the first time, Nathan goes on:
It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just how the world is. It has just meant I’ve had to mature a bit quicker.
I think it has taught me to make the most of every day, don’t let little things upset you and just enjoy the days as they come. I don’t want to be upset or angry about losing Mum and Dad.
I’ve got to focus on looking after Luke now. We respect each other a lot more, I think. I have to do things like wake him up early for school – but he’s all right about it.
SWNSAfter hearing their story the local community has rallied round, setting up a crowdfunding campaign and donating thousands to help the boys.
Kindhearted friends and family set an initial target of £5,000 but that has been surpassed and the total currently stands at £11,000. Nathan is hugely appreciative and promises every penny will be put to good use.
Meanwhile, the pain of losing dad David, who worked as a CAD (computer aided design) operator, and mum Anita, a sales assistant at Morrison’s, has bought the brothers closer together than ever.
SWNSIt has been tough now and then. Our relationship was always good but has grown dramatically since then. He’s always been a good lad and never misbehaved. We argue now and again, but nothing serious.Just goes to show the strength and power of brotherly love.
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