The Year My Mother Died

During her stint as a palliative care pediatrician, Sherry Scott believed "healthy grieving" was directly attributed to how well the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and family were met while undergoing end-of-life care. "The idea of a good bereavement blew up in my face after the death of my mom, because the year that followed revealed just how quirky and misunderstood grieving could be. I discovered it to be uniquely personal, particularly when, for fear of being labeled crazy, I couldn't voice to those closest to me my burning desire to return to adolescence."

The journey from one October to another is a moving picture of the author's clumsy attempts to interact with world around her while entertaining thoughts of fantasy and escape. The underlying narrative of the twists and turns on the way to healing is layered with humorous remembrances from childhood up through motherhood, middle age, and career transition. The process of grieving is revealed to be more than just surviving the day-to-day grind; it often holds the key to reclaiming parts of ourselves left behind as we slowly emerge from the darkness and remember who we reall.y are.