"Mrs. Wattles, there is never an easy way to say this. There's been an accident. Your daughter was killed." The author's story is one of grief and the struggle to resume life after the loss of a child. Mandy, a recent high school graduate, had spent the last 30 days trying to regain her life. She had just completed a recovery program for addiction when the two-car accident took her life. How does a parent accept death of a child who has just shown renewed excitement and hope in life?
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Editorial Reviews
From the Author
TODAY I SMILE discusses a family in crisis, from the discovery of Mandy's use and subsequent drug addiction to her attempt at recovery. This book, however, takes the reader one step further into a family's crisis.
Mandy was killed in an automobile accident on July 30, just a week after finishing her in-house recovery program. Just as I had begun to deal with Mandy's addiction and with her recovery process, I was thrust into dealing with her death and my own grief process. One story is not the direct result of the other; Mandy was a passenger in the two-car accident that occurred at a rural intersection. However, because the events happened within the span of one month, disassociating them became particularly difficult.
TODAY I SMILE was written during desperate times--those early years in grief. People frequently remark that it must have taken real courage to tell Mandy's story. I reply that it really took no special courage to talk about Mandy or to write about her: "She's one of my favorite subjects. It takes courage to live without her."--a fact every grieving parent understands.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Compelling True Story All Parents Should Read!,
By Kathy Holbrook (NEW YORK , College Student) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Today I Smile (Paperback)
Today I Smile is a compelling true story by a mother who had to learn to live again after the death of her daughter. A very moving story all parents should read!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Faith out-weighs pain,
By Carrie Jones (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Today I Smile (Paperback)
I already wrote one "review" of this book, but it was before I read it. I have now read this book twice; my mom has read this book; my sister has read this book. We all knew Mandy. After my mom read the book she kept asking me why I never got involved in drugs. I couldn't give her an answer. No one knows why some children get involved in drugs and others don't. This book can help parents see some warning signs of drug use. I know it can help me. While I was reading the book, I kept thinking back to high school. I saw changes in Mandy, but I never knew why. Mandy wasn't one of "those" kids. She was from a good family. To me that is the point of this book. Every child is at risk. This book needs to be read by all people who have any contact with children. Not just teachers and parents, but also aunts, uncles, grandparents, babysitters, etc. Diane has used her pain and tragedy to help others. Thank you Diane.
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Mrs. Wattles,
By
This review is from: Today I Smile (Paperback)
I was a student of Mrs. Wattles' English class back in the 90's. I was also a friend of Mandy's.
I try to read this book at least once a year to remind me of the importance of family and why I should live each day as if it were my last. I have battled addiction for years and this book has helped, and still continues to help me immensely!! I plan on sharing this book with my son in the coming years. He is now 10 years old. Today, I ordered a copy as a gift for a lady who I work with. She lost her teenage daughter in a car accident a few short years ago. I am hoping this book will touch her heart, as it has mine - and will somehow bring her a sense of peace, knowing that she is not alone. Mrs. Wattles, thank you for writing this book. You remain in my thoughts and prayers, yesterday, today, and always! Much love to you! Carrie Malloch MSHS Graduate, 1993
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