top of page

By My Sister's Side

Stories of Hope and Resilience

By My Sister's Side Stories of  Hope and Resilience is a compilation of thoughtful reflections and vivid memories written by twelve individuals who have lost loved ones to cancer.  Each story is deeply personal; exposing hearts that have been broken.  But beyond the deep sorrow, dark days and insurmountable grief, each contributor discovers that their days ultimately brighten and all agree that there is no greater gift we could give our loved ones than one that keeps their memories alive.  

 

Writers share their journeys from diagnosis to death and beyond.  There are similarities in the stories as they relate to coping mechanisms following their loss. Some established foundations or scholarships in memory of their loved ones; familial lines of communication were opened  in others; relationships with friends, neighbors, colleagues and former classmates were deepened or renewed; and community outreach programs were expanded in memory of those lost.  These acts were found to be helpful in the recovery process.  They became a reason to get out of bed, a realization that life had dramatically changed, and an acknowledgment that we needed to  create a new normal. 

 

By My Sister's Side Stories of Hope and Resilience provides hope, help, encouragement and love to those who belong to a group whose membership is struggling emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  These heartfelt words by Elizabeth Gilbert, in Eat, Pray, Love, capture the essence of what the contributing writers wish to share.

“Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, 

a coordinate on a map of time.

When you are standing in that forest of sorrow,

you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place.

But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on,

sometimes this will bring hope.”

filename-1 [4809400].jpg

Dalgarn Family Archive

bottom of page