Hope When A Child Loses A Parent

Joy was 10 years old when her mother lost her battle with aggressive breast cancer. Her two little sisters then looked to her for mothering. She became her father’s confidante as he tried to navigate grief, single parenthood, and looking for a new wife. Joy’s story gives listeners a glimpse into how the loss of a parent can create an ever-widening circle of grief that takes years to process. For instance, some grief counselors believe that a child who experiences a sudden loss of a significant loved one before the age of 18 does not process their grief until the average age of 40. Imagine all the decisions and life choices experienced through the grid of buried grief. There are no easy answers to how to help a child navigate such sorrow, but Joy offers help and hope through her story.