Recovering From the Loss of a Sibling: When a Brother or Sister Dies [Paperback]

Katherine Donnelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2000

A book of hope and healing, Recovering From the Loss of a Sibling is the first book for those who have experienced the death of a brother or sister. It addresses the many questions, fears and feelings of surviving siblings of all ages, such as: Will this soon happen to me? It should have been me. Why wasn't it? God must have punished me for the time when I was so mean to my brother. My sister was my parents' favorite and I don't seem to count to them. At work, they have no idea what I'm going through. They think I'm just a sibling. All the focus is on my parents, not my grief. When a brother or sister dies, surviving siblings may receive little support or even recognition of their pain. Parents are so grief-stricken at the loss of a child that they often find themselves unable to cope with the needs of their surviving children. With family and friends concentrating on the parents? tragedy, the suffering of siblings often goes unnoticed. These intimate, true stories provide valuable insight, demonstrating that the reader is not alone and that others have gone through this devastating experience and have survived. In these pages, sisters and brothers share their innermost feelings, wanting others to gain comfort from their experiences. The book also serves as a compassionate aid to friends, co-workers, teachers, family members, and the helping professions.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The death of a loved one always involves pain. When that loved one is a brother or sister, the hurt and grief take a special form. When it is a child who loses a sibling, great sensitivity is required of parentswhose own grief may block the love they need to showand of other relatives, teachers, and friends. In a moving account Donnelly brings together people's own expressions of the pain, anger, and guilt they felt at the death of a sibling. She also lets them tell what helped them live with their griefwhat others said and did that helped and what other shouldn't have said or done. Particularly helpful is the information given on support groups. For all general collections. John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Katherine Fair Donnelly is also the author of Recovering From the Loss of a Child, Recovering From the Loss of a Parent, and Recovering From the Loss of a Loved One to AIDS. She co-authors the column, Recovering From Grief which appears regularly in The Dallas Morning News. She has appeared on national television shows, such as Sally Jesse Raphael, Donahue, and Canada A.M., as well as innumerable local TV and radio programs. She has also lectured extensively throughout the United States and Canada to local and national community affairs groups, and has worked closely with mutual support groups for bereaved families. Born in Texas, she currently lives in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (July 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595010423
• ISBN-13: 978-0595010424
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far the most "healing" book for my experience!!!, January 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Recovering from the Loss of a Sibling (Hardcover)

To the Author, I say "Thank You" for writing this book!!! Surviving the Loss of a Sibling has been by far, the most "healing" book for me, in my personal experience. This based on having read (too) many (50-100) grief related books in recent years. I was 17 when my older brother died..., 28 when my little brother died..., and I very much appreciate the numerous testimonials that Katherine Fair Donnelly included in the book. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but when I read (or talk w/ others) about how "they" have dealt with their tragedy(s), I realize that I am not doing as bad of a job of adjusting (relatively speaking) as I often convince myself I have. I have found comfort in many books "on this page or that", yet in Surviving..., I find comfort on "each and every page". I have recommended it often. The problem is that the book is out of print, and the publishers @ this point have not "seen the need" for it to be re-published. They would not make that mistake if they had "lived" the loss, and then read this book. I was involved in a project for M.A.D.D.'s "Fall 96 MADDvocate. I was later told by Stephanie Frogge (Assistant to the Director of Victims Services - out of the National Office) that the "Siblings" issue was the largest publication in M.A.D.D.'s history, with over a 25% increase in distrubtion. There is most certainly a need for "Sibling" materials such as this excellent book. I've read my copy many times, and will continue to do so, with the hope that her book will again be in print very soon - for the need is great!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great help in the loss of a loved one, September 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Recovering From the Loss of a Sibling: When a Brother or Sister Dies (Paperback)

I purchased this book, not for myself, but for the brother of my brother-in-law. He was having a difficult time coming to grips with the death of my brother-in-law, as I was. Living closer to my sister's family, I grieved (and still do), but did not carry guilt of not having told him how much he meant to me. He was a wonderful friend and brother-in-law. His brother was not so fortunate. I am told that this book was a great help to him in picking up and going on. It put to rest his guilt that he should continue to live his life and helped him to validate his feelings of sorrow and loss. Losing a sibling is difficult enough, but when it is not a child or parent or spouse, people do not understand the time it takes to heal the wound. I know that the individual that I bought this book for is glad that I did.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent condition, October 23, 2010

By 

Nancy K. Gwilliam - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Recovering From the Loss of a Sibling: When a Brother or Sister Dies (Paperback)

The book arrived quickly and was in excellent condition, I purchased it for my daughter and she found it helpful