Sometimes the pain of losing a loved one can be overwhelming. It hurts emotionally, spiritually, even physically. You may wonder if you will ever recover and live a full life again. This remarkable book weaves together personal narrative and professional advice to create an inspiring and invaluable resource for the bereaved, as well as their friends and caregivers. --- from the publisher Reviews: "For grieving people who learn and feel comfort through reading, Audrey Stringer's timely book will be a Godsend. In a small book easy to carry with you, you will share a grieving journey of an insightful woman whose son died of suicide, whose granddaughter died at birth, and whose husband died after a brief illness. These three deaths combine with the deaths of a grandmother, a treasured friend and others in her personal and professional life. Her explanations of her responses to grief, copies of her own journal entries from those times and lists of valuable tips and further resources all come together to provide practical and immediately useful information. More than that, her words provide a physical hug from the page to your heart. She has been there on the roller coaster ride that is grief too often. As she says, grief feels less like a deep wound and more like an amputation. Being a professional grief counsellor does not mean grieving is easier. "Who wants to be an expert on losing their loved ones?!" summarizes why her personal, painful and ultimately hope filled
experiences end up in a book -- they are there to provide you and I will information, strength, courage and hope." Harry
Hospice Palliative Care Author and Educator Contents: Acknowledgements 1
Introduction 3
Poem 7
The Power and Strength of Belief
Chapter 1 11
My Journey into Hope and Healing
Chapter 2 39
Geting the News
Chapter 3 53
The Chaos of Grief and Mourning
Chapter 4 63
Finding Your Way to the Top of the Mountain
Chapter 5 81
Clinging to the Wreckage - Fear Factor
Chapter 6 93
Swimming in the Ocean - Hanging on By a Thread of Hope
Chapter 7 105
Throw Guilt in the Trash Can
Chapter 8 115
Emotional Roller-Coaster Ride
Chapter 9 121
Rising From the Ashes of Grief
Journal - Writing Out of the Blue 135
Afterword 197 About the Author: Audrey Stringer is a well-known bereavement counsellor. She is also an author, motivational speaker, and the host and producer of "Present Company" on TV Cogeco in Lambton County. Her business, "A String of Hope Inc is located in Sarnia, Ontario. | 
