Lives Worth Living edited by Janet Cotter

A collection of fifteen true stories, written by the families of children with life limiting conditions. Published by Southgate Publishers, 2014 (email: info@southgatepublishers.co.uk); proceeds from the sale of the book go to Children’s Hospice South West and The Jessie May Trust.

The book starts with a quote “We must be willing to give up the life we have planned so as to appreciate the life that is waiting for us.” And that’s what the contributors to this book have done.

Many parents are facing the daily struggle of coping with a sick child, sometimes more than one, balancing the needs of siblings and facing the future with courage, strength, tears and, perhaps surprisingly, lots of laughter. This book is for them, for the two charities which will benefit and for the parents who may yet have travel a road they did not foresee.

It wouldn’t be right to single out any of the stories which particularly touched me – all were equally moving, but it’s important to make clear that, although you may think this book is going to be fifteen stories of unremitting sadness, it draws on other emotions and it’s often quite funny. It left me full of admiration for these people I don’t know and will never meet and for the people I do know who are facing similar situations.

Buy this book, make a contribution of time, money, items you no longer want, anything. You can make a difference. You can help families like these have wonderful experiences and memories.

Janet Cotter is interviewed in this month’s Writers Talking.