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Chasing My Son Across Heaven
In the early morning hours of August 4, 2013, Joy Pavelich's world was shattered when she found out that her twenty-year old son Eric had taken his own life at the family farm in Saskatchewan. Struggling to make sense of Eric's sudden and unexpected suicide, Joy takes a deeply personal and difficult journey through his past--from his happy childhood, to his mental health struggles in his early teens, to his death and the resulting aftermath of his passing.
Chasing My Son Across Heaven demonstrates how to rebuild a life fractured by extreme trauma using storytelling as a powerful healing tool. The author tackles some of the most pressing issues facing society today; youth mental health, suicide and post-traumatic stress. Through her explorations, Joy reveals how we can all find the courage to rebuild our lives while continuing to honor the deep love for those we've lost.
Chasing My Son Across Heaven demonstrates how to rebuild a life fractured by extreme trauma using storytelling as a powerful healing tool. The author tackles some of the most pressing issues facing society today; youth mental health, suicide and post-traumatic stress. Through her explorations, Joy reveals how we can all find the courage to rebuild our lives while continuing to honor the deep love for those we've lost.
- GenresBook Club
288 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2020
2 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 23, 2021
A touching story that gives an honest view into moving through the grief of mental illness, losing a child to suicide, and the journey to find yourself again in the end. Beautifully written, and a captivating read. I highly recommend this book.
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December 27, 2020This marvellous book walks us through the unimaginable loss of a child. With deft intelligence and raw emotion Joy engages us in a journey towards peace and knowledge that she can connect and communicate with her son In the after-life.
There are many angles to this book. First of course is the grief with losing a child. We have been led to believe that the grief is an orderly process that follows expected stages. It is fact like being in a life raft in the middle of an ocean storm. Full of chaos and doubts of survival; the struggle and journey comes with no expectation of release.
Second, there are the struggles with a child with mental health issues so serious that they beckon one into submission to death. To think we have any enlightenment on male depression and anxiety is an understatement.
Third, we are challenged as to our faith in terms of the after life; all the questions we have and dare not voice. Joy’s restlessness and unrelenting search for connection with her son is an inspiration to us all to not consider death as an ending.
The fourth angle is the sense of confidence in Joy’s ability and strength to share her story so others can also survive. I believe this strength is related to her roots, her family and her deep connection to a small town in Saskatchewan. We don’t often thank a community such as Kenaston for making us who we are but this book gives us pause to do just that. We were loved, nurtured and challenged to live our best lives and most importantly we were allowed to have a voice. This book is Joy’s and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to listen and be changed by it.
Penny Leach
Calgary, Alberta
There are many angles to this book. First of course is the grief with losing a child. We have been led to believe that the grief is an orderly process that follows expected stages. It is fact like being in a life raft in the middle of an ocean storm. Full of chaos and doubts of survival; the struggle and journey comes with no expectation of release.
Second, there are the struggles with a child with mental health issues so serious that they beckon one into submission to death. To think we have any enlightenment on male depression and anxiety is an understatement.
Third, we are challenged as to our faith in terms of the after life; all the questions we have and dare not voice. Joy’s restlessness and unrelenting search for connection with her son is an inspiration to us all to not consider death as an ending.
The fourth angle is the sense of confidence in Joy’s ability and strength to share her story so others can also survive. I believe this strength is related to her roots, her family and her deep connection to a small town in Saskatchewan. We don’t often thank a community such as Kenaston for making us who we are but this book gives us pause to do just that. We were loved, nurtured and challenged to live our best lives and most importantly we were allowed to have a voice. This book is Joy’s and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to listen and be changed by it.
Penny Leach
Calgary, Alberta
October 3, 2020
Powerful, heart wrenching and heart warming...both at the same time. This is a MUST READ for anyone struggling to find meaning and understanding in the aftermath of tragedy and trauma. Joy’s courage to share her journey after her son’s suicide, has provided us all the gift of compassion, clarity and, above all, HOPE!! Thank you Joy, for being a guiding compass for so many that may feel lost in the fog of despair & depression. Your story is yours, but it is a beautiful one, thank you for sharing it with us! One step at a time!
November 3, 2020
I've been always a reader and, I wasn't able to finish the last 5 books I've bought lately. Joy's book is the exception and although I'm not a native English speaker it was very easy to read and I found myself not wanting to finish it. The honesty, the clarity and the meaningful story caught me since the first moment!!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
July 31, 2023
I met Joy on a flight from Saskatchewan to Toronto and heard part of her story, which led me to read her book. Her story is a powerful tale of loss, mental health and substance challenges. I did find it hard to read in middle parts where she shared in detail her path for healing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews