Amie Rohan reflects on Mother’s Day: ‘The more years that pass the more subtle the emotions are’

The ex-partner of Geelong forward Gary Rohan says she is preparing for an emotional Mother’s Day but is “trying not to let the bittersweetness get me down”.

Amie Rohan and her daughters Bella, 4 and Sadie, 2. Picture: David Caird

Amie Rohan reflects on Mother’s Day with bittersweet emotions.

She is grateful to be the mum of Bella, 4, and Sadie, 2, the children she shares with her ex-husband Geelong forward Gary Rohan. But she also feels sad remembering their baby Willow, the twin of Bella, who passed away in 2018 just hours after birth with a neural tube defect with no cure, known as anencephaly.

“The more years that pass the more subtle the emotions are,’’ Rohan said.

“But it’s always there. Like any other special moment where I wish she was here I feel her presence. We were at the park last week and the sun was setting and Bella was playing on the flying fox and I was looking at the girls thinking she’s always there.

Amie Rohan says there are bittersweet emotions ahead of Mother’s Day. Picture: David Caird

“She’s just sun shining down on us. It’s the motivation behind everything I do.

“It is always a bittersweet day. I try not to let the bittersweetness get me down. I just try and be grateful for what I have. The fact I even got to meet her. There are mums out there who don’t even get to meet their babies. I just try to find the good in the situation we had. Some people don’t even get that.”

On Sunday Rohan will be with her mother and daughters who she says have helped her heal.

In good news, Rohan can look forward with a happy heart.

She met a new man in February after separating from Gary in 2020.

“It’s really nice but keeping it to myself, I’ve got to have one piece of my life that isn’t for everyone else,’’ Rohan said.

“It’s made me realise I’m normal and I’m not a broken soul that’s not loveable. It’s exciting.”

For Mother’s Day Rohan is partnering with Special, a new personalised gift card that is backed by CBA, which has no expiry date and is available at 220,000 retailers nationally.

She has detailed her pain since losing Willow and wants to continue speaking up to help others.

“I’m just an open healer and I’m also a helper and I care,’’ she said.

“If I’m helping someone else I feel so honoured. I’m also sitting down and starting to jot down a how to guide of how to come back from the worst day of your life and that’s going to be a little mission.”