Sugar Cookies and a Nightmare: How My Daughter's Death Taught Me the Meaning of Life

by Carol Kearns

When her 7-year-old daughter was swept out to sea by a rogue wave in 1976, Carol Kearns thought she would lose her sanity. Trying to be strong for her 9-year-old son, she met with the late Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who taught Carol a new concept called "grief therapy" and encouraged her to become a psychologist in her own right. In this uplifting memoir, Carol recalls her 24 years as a grief specialist, corrects a misguided radio host she calls "Dr. Expert" and reveals her own battle with post-traumatic stress disorder after her son, a naval flight surgeon, was deployed to Iraq.

188 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2009

Reviews

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent beginning with the author writing to the "expert" who suggested a friend not send a card or acknowledge the date of a child's death or their birthday when a mother has experienced a loss of a child! Horrifying, when any "expert" should understand a mother needs to say her child's name and know that they are remembered. Kearn's own loss story is not written as well, unfortunately...the writing seems choppy, but reading her story could help someone through their own loss.

[sleeps9hours · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memoir of the accidental drowning death of the author’s 7-year-old daughter, leading the author to become a grief counselor through the influence of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Not terribly well written, but gives insight into the grieving process.

[Cathy Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

To anyone who has lost a child unexpectedly this is both a heartbreaking and inspiring book about what a parent goes through to be whole again.