How Can I Help, Papa? A Child's Journey Through Loss and Healing [Hardcover]

Elissa Al-Chokhachy (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

How Can I Help Papa? is an endearing illustrated children's story about a nine year-old girl and her terminally-ill grandfather. It was written to meet the emotional and educational needs of children, ages 6-12, with a terminally-ill loved one in their lives. Children need to know that feelings are OK, even the uncomfortable ones. It is important that they gently learn how to grieve and even have the opportunity to say goodbye.

In a time of helplessness and uncertainty, children and their families need direction about the things that can be done to maximize their time together. They need reassurance and hope that they will get through this difficulty and that life will return to normalcy, even after the loss of their significant loved one.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A handsomely and sensitively crafted book for children and the adults in their lives... a wise counsel and good resource... -- The World Pastoral Care Center

An invaluable resource for anyone trying to help children prepare for and cope with illness and loss of loved ones... -- Christina M. MacGregor, First grade teacher & mother of a 3 year-old son

One of the best books I have read for children dealing with someone who is terminally ill. -- Cindy Eastwood, Hospice Outreach of Fall River

About the Author

Elissa Al-Chokhachy, RN, BSN, CT is a graduate of New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and Boston College School of Nursing. She received the Boston College Alumni Award for Excellence in Nursing, and the Dr. William B. Stevens Award for "The Nurse Who Enjoys Her Work the Most." As a nurse with Hospice of the North Shore and the Broin & Broun Nursing Agency, she has passionately cared for the terminally ill and their families. Certified and licensed in the field of thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement, Elissa is employed as a nurse at North Shore Community College, a private duty nurse and is working on her next book to help bring hope and healing to the dying and the bereaved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Works of Hope Pub (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971248109
• ISBN-13: 978-0971248106
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elissa Al-Chokhachy, MA, RN, CHPN, FT has been working with the dying and the bereaved for over two decades. A certified hospice nurse and a fellow in thanatology, she earned a Masters of Art in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement from Hood College. Al-Chokhachy is the recipient of the 2011 American Red Cross Healthcare Hero Award, the Boston College Alumni Award for Excellence in Nursing and the Dr. William B. Stevens Award for the Nurse Who Enjoys Her Work The Most.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping your children deal with the loss of a loved one., November 27, 2002

By 

Molly M Kittleson - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Can I Help, Papa? A Child's Journey Through Loss and Healing (Hardcover)

Elissa Al-Chokhachy has created a heart-warming, caring, beautiful and, most importantly, useful book with "How Can I Help, Papa?"

Through the eyes of a small child, this book tells the story of the loss of the child's Grandpa. It deals honestly and charmingly with the childs involvement in her beloved 'Papa's' dying (in a home hospice situation) , as well as her beginning the healing process after his death. The book does not seek to diminish the loss experienced by the youngster, rather, it acknowledges the loss, and shows how healing can begin.

I read this book to my young children who have recently experienced a similiar loss. For us, the book is a catalyst to initiate the process of thinking and talking about our loss. Thought reading the book together and commenting on our own experiences and feelings, my children (and I, for that matter) have begun to understand and come to grips with the loss of their Grandmother/my Mother.

The book's illustrations by Ulrike Graf are charming and beautiful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coping with Death in a Beautiful Way, January 19, 2006

By 

Harriet G. Cabelly (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Can I Help, Papa? A Child's Journey Through Loss and Healing (Hardcover)

One of the best books I've seen for helping children deal with the loss of a loved one. A terrific resource to guide adults in just the right words and concepts to use to explain love, loss and death. A wonderfully open way of treating death as a part of life. Great for adults as well. As a social worker who works in the area of grief, I am very excited to have found such a treasure - a beautiful and positive book on a subject that our society tends to shy away from.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for kids dealing with death of a loved adult!, October 17, 2007

By 

Khristine M. Morin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Can I Help, Papa? A Child's Journey Through Loss and Healing (Hardcover)

As a mother and a nurse, I found this to be the best book by far for helping young children (under 12) understand the dying process and their feelings associated with it. Specifically, if your loved one is dying at home on hospice or has been declining over time. Easy to change the name, Papa, to whatever you call your loved one. Also easy to change the nickname for the child to their own nickname. This seemed to really help my 5 year old deal with the loss of her Vovo. She was amazed at how the book described exactly what was going on in her life. She was rivoted. The teacher even read it in class. Highly recommend this book as true to life; full of information and understanding!