The Longest Journey: Two Women's Parallel Stories of Grief and Healing Paperback - 2011

Written in first person through the voices of three main characters, The Longest Journey explores the process of grief and healing from the perspectives of:

-Hank, a man who dies at age 59 from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos

-Jan, his grieving widow who at age 58 struggles with the loss of her husband of 42 years and the simultaneous illness of her elderly father

-Cammie, their 37-year-old daughter, a divorced mother of two who is struggling to raise her family, complete graduate school and cope with the loss of her father when her ex-husband and co-parent suddenly dies

The interwoven stories of these three main characters take the reader back and forth in time, revisiting significant moments from their lives as they each explore the universal stages of grief in uniquely personal ways. The Longest Journey is not just about grief; it is also a story of love and growth as two women of different generations struggle to claim their identity.

This book shares a message of hope and inspiration for those who are struggling with loss. Grief is not specific to age, gender, culture or geographic location; it is universal. However, processing grief is not. There are as many ways to experience and process grief (or to avoid doing so!) as there are people. Sharing personal recovery stories empowers us all to heal from our own grief experiences and support others.