The death of a child is seldom discussed. This book, published today, is a collection of essays in which parents and siblings tell their stories of losing a child, brother or sister. Contributors include author Carol Drinkwater who writes about her miscarriages, Catherine Dunne, writing about the still birth of her child and Augusto Odone who lost his severely disabled son, Lorenzo, the day after his 30th birthday. There is also an essay by Sarah Brown on losing her 10-day old daughter Jennifer. She writes that she was only able to cope with her debilitating pain after realising she did not need to mend herself, nor to return to the person she was before.
The essays reflect the different causes of bereavement – illness, accident and malice. The book concludes with a reflection by psychotherapist Dorothy Rowe.
“The Death of a Child” is available from Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Child-Peter-Stanford/dp/1441183035)
If you have suffered the loss of a child and would like help, you can either telephone Catherine Cox on 020 7796 3454 or email her on ccox@citypsychotherapy. Alternatively, there are a number of charities that may be able to offer assistance. These include:
The Child Bereavement Trust (www.childbereavement.org.uk) (01494 568 900)
The Child Death Helpline (www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk) (0800 282 986)
Cruse Bereavement Care (www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk) (0844 477 9400)
The Compassionate Friends (www.tcf.org.uk) (0845 123 2304)
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