Amazon Trafford Publishing Category:  Memoir Publisher: Trafford Publishing ISBN-10:  1412063280 Pages: 195 Copyright: January,2006 ISBN-13: 9781412063289 Blending memoir and fantasy, the author shares the depths and stages of recovery after tragic loss, intertwined with faith, hope, joy, humor and love which bridges the past and present. Subtitled "A Journey Through Grief to Joy After the Death of a Child," this is a true story with a novel twist to enhance the reader's appreciation of, and endurance for, the subject matter.  It chronicles the pathos of a family striving to recover from the sudden death of a young child.  Growing and changing through the pain and loneliness of loss, the characters discover the emergence of new joys and strengths.  Hope and faith make the tragedy bearable, even if incomprehensible and unacceptable in our earthly ways of perceiving. A parallel story provides glimpses into a plausible "Heaven," a vantage point from which the lost child narrates the action and introduces the characters..  Above all, it is a poignant, true narrative of people in passage through both the sacred and mundane experience of life after unspeakable tragedy.  Believing there is a bridge of love joining Earth and Heaven can sustain people in sorrow and heal wounded spirits, leading the heart to new destinations where joy and peace can be reclaimed.  Excerpt On the tenth of October Mom decided she felt strong enough to stop by the accident site. Dad had questioned her need to do this but she told him she needed to get the facts and have all the pieces of the puzzle to understand and process what had happened. The crossroads had buildings on two corners: a small general store and an old-time gas station. Another corner had a stack of about a thousand old car tires. We had passed those tires every day for a year and I had wondered what it would be like to climb up that black rubber mountain. Mom parked in front of the store and went inside where a woman behind the counter greeted her. There were no other customers around so Mom approached the clerk and introduced herself. "My name is Cheron Mayhall. My little boy was killed in an accident here on July 22. I was wondering if you know someone who could tell me about that evening." The clerk shifted on her feet and turned red in the face. When she got over her shock, she came around and put her hand on Mom's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Cheron. My heart has felt a bit broken ever since the accident. I was working here when the crash occurred and I ran right outside. I'm a member of the local volunteer fire department so I went right to work trying to help the poor people in the car. One of the kids in the front seat was crying, but the rest were very quiet." She noticed that Mom's tears had started so she asked, "Are you sure you want to hear the details?" Mom nodded Yes. "I heard the siren and knew other volunteers would be arriving soon and that someone would have called 9-1-1 for emergency vehicles. We were very scared because the car was smoking and leaking fluid very close to the gas pumps at the station next door. If a fire got started, it could spread to that stack of old tires and cause a huge blaze. My buddies and I got the three biggest kids out of the car and laid them carefully on the ground away from the danger of fire. While a couple of the guys worked to get the driver out from under the steering wheel, I cradled Scotty in my arms and sat with him on the steps of the store. I rocked him like my own son and I cried because it looked to me like he was very badly hurt inside. He had trouble breathing and his body was totally limp. But he wasn't all beat up or anything. I mean, there wasn't any blood. He looked like an angel in cowboy boots." Mom wept and the lady joined her with a flood of her own tears. They went arm in arm to the front of the store where the lady sat Mom down on a stool and got two Cokes out of the cooler. Mom thanked her for being so motherly to me on the night of the crash and for explaining what had happened. The ambulances had come from Corvallis and took away all the victims, including the guy who was driving the pick-up truck that had hit the car broadside. "We helped the highway emergency crew clean up the spill and the police had the two vehicles towed away before dark. I couldn't sleep at all that night, wondering how I would have survived if I'd been in your shoes, Cheron. I am so very sorry. I'm glad you came by because I have thought of calling you several times. I just didn't know if you would welcome my call and I didn't want to add to your pain." "I'll be all right," Mom said as she got back into her car. "It helps me a lot to know the truth rather than to imagine what might have happened. Scotty never regained consciousness and died before he got to the hospital, but at least I know he was in good hands during those final minutes. If I couldn't have been there for him, I'm glad you were. Thank you so much." They held hands for a few additional moments before Mom backed out and headed north for home. She was relieved though exhausted. She said a prayer of thanks to God for giving her the strength to get through this and for the lady who had helped when I was dying. She forced herself to think of me as an angel in Heaven.

Patricia Venn-Watson, Fellow, American Psychiatric Assn.
A poignant, heartfelt, true-life story which captures the emotions of loss and grief. It outlines a process for survival, healing and growth over time. A tribute to the power of faith, family and friends in the healing process.

Dave Eekhoff, Presbyterian Minister, Pastoral Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist
A personal story of loss and recovery that depicts the human condition in which all life is held captive to circumstances beyond human control. The author attempts to "Bridge" a concrete experience of death and its aftermath by creating a plausible abstract phenomenon - that Heaven is a real place where past and present join together; where the five people you meet in Heaven become a reality. Bridging the gulf between the concrete and the abstract is the power of love.

Noel Phillips, D.Min., BCC Hospital Chaplain
Many families fall apart after the loss of a child. The Mayhall family grew stronger together through their struggles with grief and stress. The author adds an important dimension of spirituality and hope by interweaving an account of the child's new life in Heaven.