Weekly Round-Up: In Memory of Abigail

I had planned to share my usual gathering of voices with you this week, but after the heartbreaking news of Abigail Johnston’s death, it doesn’t feel right to continue with the round-up as usual.

Many of you will know Abigail through these weekly round-ups. I shared her writing often, and over time her voice became a familiar presence here. She wrote with unflinching honesty about living with metastatic breast cancer, but her writing reached far beyond the facts of the disease. She wrote about family and friendship, fear and uncertainty, advocacy and community, anger and grief, love and hope. Again and again, she found words for experiences and emotions that others recognised but could not always articulate themselves.

Abigail was also a formidable advocate. She was a lawyer, writer, mentor and a deeply knowledgeable voice within the metastatic breast cancer community. She shared that knowledge generously. She helped people navigate diagnoses and treatment, connected them with resources and with one another, contributed her insight to research and advocacy, and encouraged others to use their own voices.

Reading the many tributes to her since her death, what has struck me most is how personal her impact was. People remember not only what Abigail accomplished, but what she did for them: the message she sent, the phone call she made, the advice she offered, the connection that helped someone find the care they needed, the words of encouragement that arrived at exactly the right moment. She was carrying so much herself, yet somehow continued to make room for other people.

And woven through everything was her love for her family. Elliot and her boys were at the heart of her world. Anyone who read Abigail for any length of time knew that.

So this week, I am going to leave this space for Abigail

There will be time to return to our usual gathering next week. For now, I want simply to honour a woman whose voice mattered enormously to this community, and whose absence will be deeply felt.

Rest peacefully, Abigail. We will miss you.

Until next week,

Much love always,

Marie xxx