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The Grieving Parent's Book of Hope: How to Survive the Loss of Your Child
by Norma Sawyers-Kurz
Dogwood Publishing
A book about one woman's loss and her grieving experience, we are exposed not only to the author's feelings about the death of her daughter, but to the ways of coping that she utilized to carry her through the threshold of her sorrow. In the introduction of this story of trauma and love, the author relates the horror of her daughter's death. The book is then divided into ten chapters related to surviving various life issues related to death, such as denial and shock, depression, guilt, anger, and suffering. It offers numerous ways to cope with life changes, ways of engaging in meaningful activities, and affirming reality. It offers resources for support through websites and a bibliography that further provides valuable information. It is also written towards those of Christian belief.
Easy-to-read, with helpful coping techniques, the book offers a heart-felt look into grief from the viewpoint of a parent who survives her child. In the natural order of life, parents are not supposed to outlive their children which makes grieving such loss even more difficult. The author's openness in discussing her trauma and the ways to guide other parents through such pain, is nicely written and makes it easy to relate. However, the book utilizes outdated research based on a stage approach to grief, although this is written in such a way that it is not seen as a "must do" stage of grieving. If one can grasp the overall ways of coping, the book can be helpful to those needing support, especially if read by those of Christian belief.