A graduate of Queen's University, Belfast is celebrating her PhD in English Literature after having to cope with a profound personal tragedy.
Natasha Kennedy dedicated her thesis to her beloved son, Lugh who passed away shortly after birth, and whose brief life and legacy provided her the strength to persevere through these unimaginable challenges.
In 2019, while working on the second chapter of her thesis, Natasha discovered she was pregnant. Complications soon arose that turned her joy into heartbreak, and led to the premature birth of her son, Lugh, at just 25 weeks. His name, inspired by the Irish sun god, symbolises strength and hope.
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Lugh spent 147 days in neonatal care, but shortly after returning home, his health deteriorated. He suffered from a range of health issues, including Pulmonary Hypertension due to under-developed lungs and heart issues. Sadly, Lugh tragically passed away at eight months old in November 2019.
“Grief is suffocating,” Natasha reflects. “It doesn’t get easier, but you become more adept at managing it. Life continues to build around the grief.”
Despite the heartache, Natasha found resilience in Lugh’s memory.
“I found that my grief and love for Lugh became a vessel for channelling strength and perseverance - if I had to do something difficult, scary, or hard, I'd say: “If Lugh could go through all that, I can do this", she shares.
She faced another devastating loss when, just months after losing Lugh, Natasha suffered a miscarriage. Struggling with mental health, she found solace in therapy, medication, and an incredible support network that included her family, friends, and her PhD supervisor, Dr Caroline Sumpter.
“I was quickly referred for therapy and after 14 months, I was discharged but I wouldn’t be here today without the incredible support of my supervisor, Dr Caroline Sumpter, and the flexibility of Queen’s. My thesis should have taken four years, but it took almost seven. It was a tough journey, but I did it," added Natasha.
Amidst her studies, Natasha found joy again. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Torin, in July 2024 and deferred her graduation to celebrate this milestone with him.
“I deferred my graduation so Torin could be there with me. After all, he technically sat the viva too!”
Today, Natasha works as a Senior Library Assistant in Queen’s Special Collections and Archives, a role that aligns with her passion for literature. While she plans to publish her thesis, her current focus is on cherishing motherhood and advocating for open conversations about grief and loss.
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English (United States) ·