First Year, Worst Year: Coping with the unexpected death of our grown–up daughter

"Our daughter Sarah was 36 when she died in a white–water rafting accident in Peru. Her body has never been found."

This story begins with a dreadful telephone call and ends one year later with a journey to the canyon where Sarah died. It is essentially a mother s diary of the first year of bereavement, set alongside reflections from both parents three years on.

The diary portrays the challenge of getting through each day in a state of grief, trauma and shock. It describes how individual members of the family coped, the support received from The Compassionate Friends (a group of bereaved parents), and the gradual easing of pain.

The final message is that people do survive and go on to lead meaningful lives even after the most devastating loss. We trust that telling this story will provide bereaved people with hope and a way through their difficult time, and that it will take other readers to a deeper level of understanding.

Barbara Wilson, OBE, is a world–renowned clinical neuropsychologist. Her husband Mick is a retired publisher.

Acknowledgements.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER 1: There s terrible, terrible news.

CHAPTER 2: Sarah lovely, Sarah happy.

CHAPTER 3: You were not fragile until you were fearless.

CHAPTER 4: It s OK, I can talk about it.

CHAPTER 5: I always flirt with death.

CHAPTER 6: Can you make a phone call if you re dead?

CHAPTER 7: We kiss the joy as it flies.

CHAPTER 8: The final goodbye: Forever Young .

EPILOGUE: Last word from Sarah (as it were).

References.

"...a potentially useful resource..." (Journal of Mental Health, Vol 14 (3) 2005)