Overview

A celebration of a life, a story of a death, but most importantly an exploration of grief and loss relevant to all those in a position to make that experience more bearable. This book is essential reading for anyone working or preparing to work with young adults and others facing terminal illness, and their families. It is written by a bereaved mother of a 25 year-old son treated unsuccessfully for cancer. Heartbreakingly honest, Nina draws on relevant theory, research and narrative texts as well as personal reflections. She considers what might have made the hideous journey through treatment, dying and bereavement easier to bear. This is a moving and memorable story for all of us, but there are also learning points throughout for medics and medical policy makers specifically and the health and social care professions more generally. Students and experienced nurses, doctors, counsellors, clerics and others will benefit from deepening their understanding in order to work more effectively with people facing the unthinkable.

Full Product Details

9781913453534

Table of Contents

Reviews

Nina Praske has shared her powerful story to help others learn from her experiences and support a world in which people's experiences of death, dying and loss help shape the work of professionals involved in it, for the better. -- Jenny Fogarty, Lead for St Christophers CARE This is a powerful, devastating, funny and kick ass account of the death of a beautiful, beyond loved son and the viscerally intense grief of his mother.... There is no filter here and among the sadness and tears are laugh out loud moments and a cast that includes parakeets, ghosts and an imaginary dog called Frank. Through 'Love in the Present' Tense Nina has produced a gift for other families and those who support them. For anyone really who cares. -- Dr Sara Ryan, University of Oxford This is not a misery memoir, and it is not a self-help guide. It is a book about keeping going, in the context of the total awfulness of the death of a child. I wish nobody else might need to read it, but I know they will. I am so glad it is now available. -- Tom Shakespeare, Professor of Disability Research, LSHTM

This is not a misery memoir, and it is not a self-help guide. It is a book about keeping going, in the context of the total awfulness of the death of a child. I wish nobody else might need to read it, but I know they will. I am so glad it is now available. -- Tom Shakespeare, Professor of Disability Research, LSHTM

Author Information

Nina Praske is a Professor at a UK University. Her greatest achievement is being the mother of three fantastic adult children born close together in under two years. Sadly, one of her sons, James, died of cancer at the age of 25. She continues to love all her children in the present tense and is determined to hang on to her compassion, live a good life and continue to make a decent contribution to the world. With this in mind Nina has written this book to help healthcare professionals and others do the best they possibly can for families facing up to the premature death of a loved one.

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