Live Like Lorelei: A mother’s story of finding herself through a little girl who was dying the day she was born.

by Susan Geoghegan

When Susan Geoghegan’s daughter, Lorelei, was born with a rare mitochondrial disease, motherhood became nothing like she imagined. Instead of playdates and milestones, there were PICU stays, feeding tubes, and doctors delivering news no parent ever expects to hear.

But woven into the heartbreak was a girl who radiated joy, love, and light—teaching her family (and now, you) how to live fully, love deeply, and find hope even in impossible places.

Live Like Lorelei is not just a story of grief—it’s a love letter to resilience. With honesty, wit, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, Susan invites readers into the sacred, messy, hilarious, and heartbreaking chapters of her motherhood journey. Along the way, she discovers lessons about self-worth, belonging, presence, and how to live boldly in a world that doesn’t always make sense.

For anyone who has ever loved and lost, or simply wondered how to hold grief and joy in the same breath, this memoir is both a companion and a compass. It will make you cry, laugh, and maybe crave a slice of pie.

What readers will find
– A raw, beautifully written story of life with a medically complex child
– Lessons about resilience, self-worth, belonging, and hope
– The reminder that while grief changes us, it doesn’t have to consume us
– A voice that is equal parts heart-wrenching and sarcastic, because sometimes laughter is survival

If you’ve ever felt broken, Live Like Lorelei will remind there is still light, love, and life to be found.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Niknak242 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend from Hayden’s House retreat wrote a book. It’s incredible. Humor mixed with grief. This incredible human lost her sassy beautiful daughter to a rare mitochondrial disease. Her son, Benji, is battling the same disease. Somehow this incredible human managed to wade through grief, care for Benji, open a retreat home for complex medical caregivers, and be a vocal advocate for rare disease and write not 1, but 2 books. Please given it a look. Read it. Get the companion version aimed at kids. It’s so worth it.

[Susan Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a caregiver, a bereaved parent, or love someone who is, this book is a must read. Scratch that, anyone with a heart must read this book. It is moving; it is heartfelt; it is heartbreaking; it is funny. You will be laughing and crying all at the same time.
Susan and Lorelei have so much to teach us and I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Lauren Early · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me with more feelings, perspectives, confirmation, and courage then any book I’ve ever read (minus the Bible). This beautiful (real) story of immense love and immense loss will leave readers laughing while crying and crying while laughing. The life lessons and encouragement to live life in your own messy/beautiful/meaningful way will stay with me forever.

[Christina Holderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read

This little book carries so much heart and soul. It’s not a weighty tome, but like Lorelei herself, it is petite and full of lessons. I am not a medical caregiver, but this book helped me see how to be a better friend. If you have people in your life who need extra support, this is the book you need. Thank you Suz for putting this out there.

[Sarah May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of love, loss, and healing when life hands us the unimaginable. Susan’s words honor the life of her precious daughter - Lorelei - who teaches us all so much: about how to live well and to remember what really matters. A true gift.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, relatable, funny, and emotional. Best book I’ve read in years.

[April Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an emotive glimpse into the lives of parents whose children are medically complex, with many opportunities to apply lessons learned to one’s own life.

[Sarah Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried. There were so many aspects that felt relatable to me - parenting a neurodivergent child, dealing with multiple types of grief. Anyone who’s dealt with loss should read this.