The Gifts from Losing You

Book excerpt: The Gifts from Losing You is a poignant chronicle that shares a family's experience of their first year grieving the sudden loss of their only son and brother, aged 19. Written by his mother, it is a story of personal tragedy, immeasurable love, heartbreak, and sadness, coupled with gratitude, courage, and perseverance. Her reflections explore the themes of loss, shock, pain, acceptance, and eternal love. She focuses on how her family found a way to weave their grief into the fabric of their lives while opening their hearts and minds to the gifts bestow on them. She discovers that deep despair and blessing can co-exist simultaneously in grief. This unique perspective has guided them in their healing, enabling them to live alongside their heartache. From her experience as a health coach, she shares the self-care practices that enabled her to cope with her devastating reality. For anyone suffering the loss of a child or a loved one, this part memoir, part self-help book provides hope and inspiration, with insights to help you navigate your path out of the dark, toward the light.