5,742 days

by Anne-Marie Cockburn

On 20th July 2013 15-year-old Oxford schoolgirl Martha Fernback died suddenly after swallowing half a gram of MDMA powder, more widely known as ecstasy. Within hours her mother, Anne-Marie Cockburn, began to write down her feelings as a way to channel her shock and try to make sense of the tragic loss of her only child. From an early age Anne-Marie has used writing to try to make sense of her life. This recent tragedy propelled her out of the shadows and gave her the confidence to share her writing with the world. In this book we join her in real time on her shocking and agonising journey, as she deals with the impractical demands placed upon a grieving single parent, begins to cope with the realities of life on her own and faces up to a future she could never have predicted. From the moment Martha died, Anne-Marie recognised that she still had a future, a life to live. This revealing, emotional and, ultimately, uplifting book shows how she used the art of writing, combined with determined self-belief, to guide her during this terrible time.

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2013

Reviews

[Tonya]

Beautifully written

Normally I don't read books like this. I am very glad I took the time to read this. It was beautifully written, you could feel her grief as well as her healing process as time went on. I gained a admiration for mothers who has lost a child. my own mother being one. It made me realize how strong a grieving mother is. I'd recommend this book to anyone, especially a mother who has lost a child. If I ever had the chance to meet the writer I would thank her for this book.

[Lou Gillies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review given the circumstances of its conception. The prose is beautiful. The story is tragic. If ever anyone needed proof that each day should be filled with love and life, this is it.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad , I couldn't imagine losing one of my children. My prayers go out to all parents that must face losing a child. Thank you for sharing yours and your daughter's story.