Customer Reviews

Dear Cheyenne: A Journal into Grief, a Collection of Angels & Miracles, a Cleebration of Motherhood

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Joanne, I read your book "Dear Cheyenne" after losing our son. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished! I don't think that any words could express how much your book has helped me! I have read many other books, but yours was the one that made an impact on me! It made me realize that I wasn't alone and that my feelings were very normal. It was ok for me to cry all of the time. But most importantly, it showed me that i do not ever have to let our son be forgotten. There are so many things that I can do to keep his memory alive. I would reccomend this book to anyone that has to go through this horrible situation. I can not express enough how much this book can help you. It is a must read. Jaonne will grab your heart and make you realize that you are going to be ok.

When our full-term daughter Camille was stillborn August 17, 2000 we were given copies of this book by both our OB/GYN and hospital counselor. The day after my wife came home from the hospital Joanne was at our home. We are fortunate to have gotten to know Joanne personally. She is truly a unique person who just happens to be a woman who suffered a tragic loss. Yet she turned that loss into something positive for all women who follow that same dark path of grief and anger upon losing something so prescious as a child. Knowing others have trod the path is not comforting; what is comes from knowing that these were good and decent people. And yet tragedy befell them too. Maybe our baby died not because we did anything wrong, but because things like that do happen to good and bad people alike. What is so awful is not being able to be given a reason, a cause of death. Over 25,000 babies are stillborn every year for underermined medical reasons. So we realize we are not alone. Thank you Joanne for sharing your experience through your book, and your time and your love.

Someone close to our family just lost their beautiful newborn baby girl due to a heart defect. It was a tragic loss filling them with such pain as only someone who has lost a child can imagine. When beautiful baby Jennifer died, I relived once again the loss of my precious twin babies Tiffaney and Natasha who were born prematurely 26 years ago. So much ofwhat you wrote in your book reflects and echos my feelings and thoughts about the loss of my babies. If I had only known then that it was so important to hold the babies I would insisted even though at that time the belief was so different. There was no opportunity to see them, hold, touch and say goodbye. There were no pictures, footprints, locks of hair. What I do have is a very vivid memory of the first time I ever felt them move. That little flutter is imprinted in my mind, the very moment. Thank you for writing your touching story and sharing it with others. My prayer is that anyone who is ever in this tragic situation will be encouraged to hold their baby. I have gotten copies of their birth certificates and am having them framed to celebrate that theylived. I have always said that I will never get over the loss of my babies but the day did come when I could see rainbows again, when Icould take some comfort in knowing that I will see them again someday inour Heavenly Home. They are the Angels who have watched over their brother and sister and kept them safe. They are the Angels who help tocomfort me in hours of saddness and let me know they are with me by the sparkle in the sunshine that glistens through the leaves against thepicture perfect autumn sky. You have done so much good with your book. Thank you for helping me togive myself permission to walk through the steps of grief once again so I can bring the pain to the surface and heal. God be with you and your family always. Claudia

A friend on the internet told me to get this book. I lost my first pregnancy, a daughter at 22 weeks to infantile polycystic kidney disease. My husband and I decided to try again as we got a "fluke" diagnosis. With our second pg, a boy, the 13 week ultrasound was fine, at 14.5 weeks there was not heartbeat. We have gone through tons of tests, the baby appeared normal this time, we ended up with another "fluke" diagnosis. This one was different, but we still have no answers. This book helped me to know that I am not the only one with the feelings that I have. It is also reassuring to know that people live through things like this and go on with their lives. It is an excellent book and I recommend it highly to anyone who has suffered a loss! IT DID NOT TAKE 4-6 WEEKS LIKE IT SAYS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. IT ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE THE OTHER BOOKS I PURCHASED THAT WERE "IN STOCK". YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE SOME MONEY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM SHIPPED WHEN AVAILABLE LIKE I DID. If you are considering this book, go ahead and get it, it is one of the better ones I have read. Also, I hope you know peace in your life again soon. All the best, Marla

I recently lost my daughter, Alexa. She was 14 months old. I have attempted to read many books since her death, and most have dealt with the stages of grieving and practical issues. Dear Cheyenne was different. I read the book from cover to cover and cried through almost the whole book. The tears were healing tears, I believe. The beautiful poetry and entries put words to the feelings that I was experiencing and couldn't name. It is a beautiful, creative, intelligently written book. It is sad and joyful. This is by far the best book I have read thus far dealing with the issue of grieving the loss of a child. It is a book that any parent who has lost a baby will treasure forever.

I cried all the way through this book. It helped me to understand HOW to deal with parents and what practical things I could do to help them. Even though I have never had a baby who died, this book has given me insight I never thought I would get.

What a gift this book has been!! THank you!

Now in its Fourth Printing, Dear Cheyenne has become even more of a wonder in its own right. Everytime I read Joanne's writings it brings me to tears and reminds me that I will never walk this road of grief alone. Cheyenne is one special little girl and Her Momma is even more special with the way she just tears at your heart with her words. I know that no matter where in the road of grief I am I will always be able to read Dear Cheyenne and know that I am not alone. Its one of the only books I would even recommend for ANY grieving parent.

A co-worker whose son was lost at 34 weeks lent me your book. I honestly wouldn't have known what to do with my grief or myself if it weren't for your book and website. Everyone else seemed to expect me to get over it in a week or two and they look at me odd when I still talk about our precious baby. It's only been 4 weeks and I am no where near being through this grief yet. Reading your book has helped me allow myself to feel my grief completely and to know not to rush myself. I love knowing that in Heaven's eyes I am the mommy I had so wanted to be and my angel and I will be reunited one day. I am so thankful that you have pointed that out to me. I hope I am conveying to you how much your book and website have meant to me. This has been the most difficult time in my life and although my husband has been incredibly supportive and sensitive, I still have felt alone. Thank you for showing me that I don't have to go through this darkness alone. The light at the end of this tunnel is just a speck but at least I'm seeing the light. Thank you, thank you, with all of my heart!

This book was amazing for me. I have bought copies for our local hospital too. I read alot of books. This one was by far the best. The author takes you on a realistic journey, not some watered down account, sterilized. It is the real thing after a child's death. My daughter was older, but the pain was the same. I found myself sobbing with anguish and celebrating with triumph. Read this one FOR SURE!

This book exemplifies true grief and the journey a mother takes after her child's death. I have never read such an incredible piece...poetry, thoughts, ideas, miracles...from darkness to light. What a fantastic book! Thank you! I am buying copies for all my family memberS!