Piece of My Heart: Living Through the Grief of Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death

by Molly Fumia, Ann Dunnewold Ph.D.

Despite advancements in the care of those who are suffering from the loss of a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, many parents, especially mothers, cannot or will not give themselves permission to mourn. Their feelings are real and complex, yet they are often denied a safe place to live through and ultimately befriend the grieving. A Piece of My Heart is such a friend. The moving story of a mother's loss of her weekold son, it chronicles an amazing journey that began with denial and guilt, found its way through remembrance and reconciliation, and ended in resolution and surprising joy. A beautiful book about the necessity of grieving the loss of unlived lives, it shows readers who are going through similar experiences a shared understanding and wraps them in a warm cloak of support and friendship. Readers will be affirmed in the sacred right of all parents to mourn the loss of their children, however short their lives, and will be shown the path toward eventual healing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Grief

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2000

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that helped me begin healing emotionally after several miscarriages. Fumia's words could have been my own. She wrote the words that were in my heart. Reading this book was utterly affirming. She's been there. She understands. She speaks from a mother's heart. She has such a complete understanding of the nature of grief that despite the fact that you're holding nothing more than a book, you feel enveloped by compassion.

[Rachel Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly writes the words in my heart, on my mind, and the ones that I needed to hear.....

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult subject, but insightful and informative.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

While every child loss is unique to the family and situation, there were so many moments of this "shared grief" that resonated with me. It is like I could have written this book myself.