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Losing Aaron: A Memoir
In Losing Aaron, Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes has written a compelling tale of a mother's struggle with her son's mental illness and suicide. She makes us understand how, when one person in a family suffers from the cruelty of schizophrenia, it informs and defines the lives of all those who love that person. We come away knowing not only a mother's loss, but the complexity, wonder, and sadness of the life that has been lost, and the immense struggles that come before and after the loss.
Every family member with courage to share their story about mental illness in a loved one opens the door of understanding just a bit more - and that can help reduce stigma and spark action to help those with mental illness and their families. The author begins with the fact of Aaron's suicide, so we know where this is headed and yet we still root for Aaron - and his Mom, Dad, sister and stepdad - to get the support, education, and understanding needed to change the outcome we know is inevitable. Alas, that doesn't happen - but Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes opens her heart to us as we share in her confusion, frustration and helplessness in the face of a devastating illness that seems to steal the soul of someone we love.
Every family member with courage to share their story about mental illness in a loved one opens the door of understanding just a bit more - and that can help reduce stigma and spark action to help those with mental illness and their families. The author begins with the fact of Aaron's suicide, so we know where this is headed and yet we still root for Aaron - and his Mom, Dad, sister and stepdad - to get the support, education, and understanding needed to change the outcome we know is inevitable. Alas, that doesn't happen - but Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes opens her heart to us as we share in her confusion, frustration and helplessness in the face of a devastating illness that seems to steal the soul of someone we love.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2017
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February 12, 2017
Tragedy strikes a family’s whose son had a serious mental illness.
“Losing Aaron”, by Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes, recounts the events of her son, Aaron’s, life, from the time he was little and leading up to his death by suicide as a young adult.
Aaron was such a loving and easygoing boy and early teen but shortly after, signs of distress began to appear.
Later, as Aaron symptoms progressed, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Aaron was so ravaged by the disorder that he did not recognize his illness and truly believed everyone, including his family and doctors, were against him, no matter how much reinforcement and help they provided.
When the author finds out about her son’s death by suicide, she realizes she really lost Aaron seven years prior when the schizophrenia took hold of him.
“Losing Aaron”, by Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes clearly illustrates the fatigue, concern, and heartbreak Aaron’s family went through trying to save their son, but also their continual spark of hope that their loved one would return from his personal hell.
“Losing Aaron”, by Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes, recounts the events of her son, Aaron’s, life, from the time he was little and leading up to his death by suicide as a young adult.
Aaron was such a loving and easygoing boy and early teen but shortly after, signs of distress began to appear.
Later, as Aaron symptoms progressed, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Aaron was so ravaged by the disorder that he did not recognize his illness and truly believed everyone, including his family and doctors, were against him, no matter how much reinforcement and help they provided.
When the author finds out about her son’s death by suicide, she realizes she really lost Aaron seven years prior when the schizophrenia took hold of him.
“Losing Aaron”, by Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes clearly illustrates the fatigue, concern, and heartbreak Aaron’s family went through trying to save their son, but also their continual spark of hope that their loved one would return from his personal hell.
Displaying 1 of 1 review