Vacancy: A Mother's Book of Loss and Grief

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps a biased review
Review: I say this is a biased review because the author is my aunt. However, as a person who read the book I can say that there are very few people who are so willing to bear their very heart and soul to an unknowing audience of readers in order to change the world. This book perfectly explains how illness and death effects a family but not it's love for their child. As a result, this serves as a great help to mothers (parents), siblings, and ANYONE who has ever lost a loved one. It describes the phases of death through the author's very eyes and emotions. This should also serve as a beneficial and even lifesaving book to young people ever using or considering using drugs (prescription or illegal). It lays out exactly what may happen when you "get hooked" and how it affects the lives you leave behind. The point that comes across so clear is you may never may get to say good-bye, and how one works on trying to overcome that pain. With complete hope in saving a life, this author relives every heart ache she has ever encountered in raising and then spreading the ashes of her child. Through it all, she explains the wonderful man he was (despite battles with drugs, etc.)and how much she loves him. There is even poetry by the author's son included in the book which helps describe and really show what was going on in his life. It helps those who have ever felt that way to relate to his life. Every person should have a copy of this book, if not for help or advice, then for the pure example that even though the human heart is capable of feeling so much pain, hurt, and anguish...it is ten times as beautiful, hopeful, and able to reach out and sacrifice personal moments in order to save another life. In realizing the love and motivation we as humans are capabe of...this alone should help in saving more than a few lives.