A NEW book for parents and families who have lost a child has been published by a mum who lost her own child to cancer – and who wants to support others going through bereavement.

Patsy Freeman’s youngest daughter Jasmine, from Stroud, died nearly seven years ago, aged just 39.

To celebrate her life and to support others Patsy has published her book – ‘In Search of You’ with the strapline ‘Letters to a Daughter.’

Patsy, who lives in Nailsworth, said: “When my youngest daughter died of breast cancer in 2013, I was grief-stricken and wrote letter after letter to her in utter desperation.

"Putting it all down on the page kept the grief moving through me and helped me feel closer to my daughter.

"Writing was a very instinctive response to her death and the confusing events that had led up to it.”

“As the months rolled by I struggled with how inept we seem to have become at handling grief, be it our own or someone else’s. Silence, stoicism and pressing on with life seemed to be the order of the day, but since I was unable to engage in any of those things, I found grieving a deeply lonely affair.”

“My longing is that grief will be seen as a normal, healthy emotional response to loss.”

In Search of You – letters to a daughter is Patsy’s story which the author hopes will help readers throughout the world to feel okay about their often turbulent feelings and emotions surrounding grief.

Patsy added: “In the process, may we restore grief as an important and necessary part of being human, both for our emotional, mental and physical health, as well as for the lifting of the loneliness that is prevalent in so many of our communities.”

This book is designed to help anyone who is experiencing grief, as well as the person who has an interest in this area.

Patsy said: “The feelings and emotions surrounding grief are often very intense, and they may well include anger, despair and a good dose of guilt.

"All this is quite normal, but it really does help to have the right support in place, as grief calls for a feeling response, rather than the logical approach of the mind.”

The book is available from Stroud Bookshop and can be ordered online.