Chapter One
Grieving Your Personal Losses
In 2004, Dick and Darliss's adult daughter Stacy died after a year long struggle with cancer. Their family had begun to grieve as Stacy first become ill.
That their daughter had a terrible disease and had to face the challenge of multiple therapies to combat it became too much for Dick and Darliss to bear. Confusion, isolation, frustration, anger, and overwhelming sadness quickly became their reality. Work and volunteer commitments were no longer on their list of immediate prioroties.
A new demand for supporting one another shadowed social commitments -- especially as their two young grandsons became aware of the impact of their mother's disease.
The struggle between a sense of hopefulness and the possibility of impending death was the first cognitive challenge for Dick and Darliss. How could they begin to acknowledge such a dilemma or even try to function in a meaningful way? (Read The Book)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Thomas M. Ellis, defines "shadow" as grief, discussing how isolating and overwhelming it can be. He uses narratives of loss from his therapy practice and details how grief and pain can ultimately transform one's life in a healing way, even though the present might seem hopeless and terrifying. In a little more than a 100 pages, the author empathizes with the sufferer, dwells in the muck awhile, then takes the sufferer to a place where he or she can live and breathe again. His short, excellent, and readable book-perfect for someone experiencing grief and sadness is recommended for all libraries. Library Journal - Erin Miller - July 6, 2006 |
