Lynn Forbes has openly shared her painful journey after losing her son, Kiernan Forbes, also known as AKA. It’s been over a year since his tragic passing on February 10, 2023, outside Wish restaurant in Durban.
Throughout this time, Forbes has used her platform to speak on grief, hoping to help others who are going through the same difficult process.
Earlier this year, Forbes highlighted the term "Vilomah," a Sanskrit word meaning "against the natural order of things".
This term describes parents who have lost a child - a loss so deep because it goes against life’s usual course where children outlive their parents.
On August 21, Forbes posted a touching old photo with her two sons, reflecting on the role of motherhood and how losing a child changes a mother’s identity.
In her post, she wrote: "When you have children, your identity shifts from being a woman to being a mother ... Losing a child in any way is a mother’s biggest pain.
“It changes one’s identity because what made you a mom is no longer complete, it’s broken. You experience an identity death."
Forbes expressed that while a mother’s identity may be shattered by loss, the unconditional love for her children remains unbreakable.
She emphasised that, as a mother, you try to do your best despite your imperfections and, in the end, find peace in knowing that your love is everlasting, even in the face of loss.
Through her openness, Forbes continues to encourage others who are grieving, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey and that healing, though difficult, is possible with time and self-compassion.