It’s Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month.
I read once that siblings are known as the ‘forgotten grievers’, very sadly, it’s often so true. My oldest son Charlie was just seven years old when his little brother Ruairí (you say it like Rur-ee) devastatingly died - the cruelest introduction to death with life long impacts.
Sadly that’s his reality.
And sadly, there are many other boys and girls who live this reality too.
Did you know that roughly 1 in 29 children have been bereaved of a sibling or a parent? that’s roughly one per classroom.*
When Ruairí died, Charlie wanted to know how he’d get to heaven. He imagined he’d get there in a rocket and drew a beautiful picture of that rocket on a canvas. That idea went on to become the start of a book I’d write, Ruairí’s Rocket to heaven, to help other bereaved children and their families during their own incredibly difficult times. Books are such great conversation starters, especially difficult conversations.
With gentle illustrations by Beth Cole and clear language, the book takes young readers into the lives of Charlie & Ruairí. In the first part it describes the boys’ lives together and in the second part the story focusses on Charlie’s life after Ruairí’s death. It explores feelings like sadness, fear, anger and confusion and looks at different ways to express grief and find comfort in memories, through Charlie’s experiences.
It is a story of heartbreak and hope, of hurting and healing, of everlasting love between two brothers.
Each time Ruairí’s Rocket helps another family, Ruairí’s life continues to make a difference, and that means the world to me and my family.
All profits go to Shooting Star Children’s hospices in gratitude for the support my family received and to contribute to the amazing work they do with life limited children and their families.
“This is one of the loveliest books for children on loss, I love how you have been so honest and used the words like died. As a society we don’t like saying it and it was a breath of fresh air to read your book.” From Gayle Routledge, Founder / Chief Executive of A Child of Mine