The Colors of Love and Loss

A book I helped to create with Dr. Joanne Cacciatore is now available. It is a FREE resource for grieving children and you can download it here: https://www.centerforlossandtrauma.com/team-3
An Español version is now available on the site as well.

Dr. Joanne Cacciatore is also the author of Bearing the Unbearable* and is a globally-recognized expert in traumatic grief and a gift to humanity. Please learn more about her loving and devoted work with the bereaved by visiting her Facebook page or the MISS Foundation website.

I do have to admit there was a lot of heartache associated with working on this book on so many levels, not the least of which is grieving the loss of my wife to hereditary cancer. But I hope the tears shed while illustrating it will help children facing the unbearable loss of a sibling.
 

*The first book I read after the death of my beloved wife and I strongly recommend it to the grief stricken (and the grief-adjacent as well.) More information about Bearing the Unbearable is available here. Or you can buy it on Amazon.

Father of a Previvor: A Father's Day Story

 

Here's a link to my Father's Day blog article for CureToday.com.

Story about FORCE (FacingOurRisk.org) and the origin of the the word "previvor."

Raging about Cancer

Cancer Centers Need a Room for Rage

My latest blog post at CURE®

Hoping to Prevent Hereditary Cancer

 

A Mother’s Day blog post of mine on CURE.

Grief Break : Earth Day

I gave my broken heart a little rest and took a break from writing about my soul mate's death and hereditary cancer prevention on CURE and The Mighty to do a quick sketch of a House Finch building a nest in the acacia tree in my backyard.

And a reminder to everyone this Earth Day to take the time to look around for the small wonders of nature -- even if it's in your own backyard.

Know nature. Learn to be still.

Expressions of Grief: Another Heartache Today

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the day I officially began my full-time freelance career. But I’m not celebrating today. 

Last June my wife, Donna, died after a nearly 4-year battle against hereditary cancer. Donna wasn’t just my wife and mother of our child; she was also my muse and co-creator on several projects over our 40-years together. It is an unbearably heartbreaking loss, especially because her death from cancer was nearly 100% preventable.

 

Being Donna's caregiver hastened my retirement from freelancing. Cancer caregiving is awful beyond words as you watch cancer rob your loved one of their life. And it's something no spouse should ever have to go through. So now I’ve turned my attention to hereditary cancer prevention advocacy and volunteer work. I'm doing it because speaking up might prevent others from suffering horribly and dying from cancer. And because of the pain I will always feel from the loss of my beloved wife and the countless hopes and dreams that were lost personally and creatively. 

Brains, love and courage would have changed everything.