Through Death to Life

Rating:
Summary: Final years of a beautiful marriage - a truly amazing story!
Review: Rarely do we ever have an opportunity to read a man's personal diary and letters. Ron Gries never dreamed his many and varied views of Patty's long struggle with cancer would end up in a book, but it happened. The letters he sent to their children and the poems he wrote for himself could have been edited, but they were not. This makes the book totally real. He did a fine job of adding just enough additional pages to blend them together. What a marvelous guide for marriage enrichment and for knowing better what to say and do for a loved one who has a terminal illness.

We were neighbors of Patty and Ron from 1979 until 1988, as we raised our kids and played bridge. Then I knew them casually. Thanks to Ron's book, scratch casually and substitute intimately. Ron is one fantastic man!

Rating:
Summary: An intimate look at a terribly long and difficult journey
Review: Rarely do we ever have an opportunity to read a man's personal diary and letters. Ron Gries never dreamed that his many and varied views of his wife's long struggle with cancer would end up in a book, but that's what happened. The poems he wrote only for himself and the letters to their children could have been edited, but they were not. This makes the book totally real. He did a fine job of adding just enough to blend his log entries together. What an inspiring guide for those who are grieving! This book gives friends and neighbors clues what to say and do for a loved one who is terminally ill.

We were neighbors of Patty and Ron from 1969 until 1978, raising kids and playing bridge. Then we knew each other casually. Readers of this book get an intimate look at one man's journey through death to life.

Rating:
Summary: Final years of a beautiful marriage - a truly amazing story!
Review: Rarely do we ever have an opportunity to read a man's personal diary and letters. Ron Gries never dreamed his many and varied views of Patty's long struggle with cancer would end up in a book, but it happened. The letters he sent to their children and the poems he wrote for himself could have been edited, but they were not. This makes the book totally real. He did a fine job of adding just enough additional pages to blend them together. What a marvelous guide for marriage enrichment and for knowing better what to say and do for a loved one who has a terminal illness.

We were neighbors of Patty and Ron from 1979 until 1988, as we raised our kids and played bridge. Then I knew them casually. Thanks to Ron's book, scratch casually and substitute intimately. Ron is one fantastic man!

Rating:
Summary: An intimate look at a terribly long and difficult journey
Review: Rarely do we ever have an opportunity to read a man's personal diary and letters. Ron Gries never dreamed that his many and varied views of his wife's long struggle with cancer would end up in a book, but that's what happened. The poems he wrote only for himself and the letters to their children could have been edited, but they were not. This makes the book totally real. He did a fine job of adding just enough to blend his log entries together. What an inspiring guide for those who are grieving! This book gives friends and neighbors clues what to say and do for a loved one who is terminally ill.

We were neighbors of Patty and Ron from 1969 until 1978, raising kids and playing bridge. Then we knew each other casually. Readers of this book get an intimate look at one man's journey through death to life.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully inspirational, soulful, simple, moving book!
Review: Ron Gries has the enviable ability to identify his emotions, accept them, and express them in simple beautiful words. In his first book, Through Death to Life, he shares the emotional turmoil of his wife's illness, death, and the resulting grief with a clarity that goes straight to the reader's heart. He also writes about his personal growth that results from this suffering. In so doing, he offers hope for those grieving that they too can move beyond their sorrow. It is inspirational both to those who have suffered such a loss and to those of us who will in the future.

I am a hospice volunteer who sits with dying patients to give their caregiver a break. I also offer friendship and support to both the patient and the caregiver. I'm so convinced that this book will be helpful, that I plan to give a copy to each caregiver.

Rating:
Summary: Through Death to Life
Review: Ron Gries has written a book that touches the heart and soul as he shares with us the inevitable loss of his dear wife. His sensitive poems and prose allow the reader to understand that death is not something to be feared, but rather can be an opportunity for personal growth. Since his writing took place as the various life events were actually happening, we are afforded the rare glimpse into the heart of a man, who has found that through his writing was able to deal with his grief before, during and after the death of his wife. Anyone who reads this book will begin to discover that it is through these difficult times that our character, heart and spirit grows beyond our own limitations. This book is not only for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, but for anyone who wants to understand what life is about.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gem.
Review: This book is beautifully written and touched my soul. Ron Gries is able to put into words what many of us can only feel in our hearts. Some people may categorize this book for people who are facing the death of a loved one. However, I believe this book will be inspiring to all individuals, as it offers insights into the heart and soul at many stages of life. This is a book that stays with you. You can't help but be a better person for having read it.

Rating:
Summary: Through Death to Life
Review: This book is for anyone who has lost a loved one, is losing a loved one or has loved. It speaks to those parts of the marriage vows that are often taken for granted: "In sickness and in health, 'till death do us part". Straight from his gut, Ron gives us an intimate view of the life, love and loss of his beloved wife Patty and his subsequent healing from grief. He tells his story simply yet eloquently with honesty, grace and love.

Anyone in the throes of losing a loved one can catch an early glimpse of their inevitable future and their future past in enough time to use their understanding to enhance their experience of caring for their loved one and to gain assurance that healing will follow after grief.

I put this book in a class with "tuesdays with Morrie", for its insights, sensitivity and ability to console. As a therapist, I will definitely recommend this book to my grieving clients.

I knew Ron's wife Patty and I'm sure she is smiling down on him with pride.

Rating:
Summary: Through Death to Life by Ron Gries
Review: This is the first grief book that I have read from a male perspective - what a joy to read it! It is the story of an unbelievably difficult journey for both patient (Patty) and caregiver (Ron). As someone who has suffered two recent losses - and also someone who helps to facilitate Grief Recovery classes, I found myself deeply helped by his sharing. I also have marked several pages to read at my next Grief Recovery class.

Rating:
Summary: Through Death to Life by Ron Gries
Review: This is the first grief book that I have read from a male perspective - what a joy to read it! It is the story of an unbelievably difficult journey for both patient (Patty) and caregiver (Ron). As someone who has suffered two recent losses - and also someone who helps to facilitate Grief Recovery classes, I found myself deeply helped by his sharing. I also have marked several pages to read at my next Grief Recovery class.