Brighton author writes first book to help others grieve following the death of her father
Lara Rodwell lost her dad to Bowel Cancer last year
A woman from Brighton has written a book to help others deal with grief, after losing her dad to Bowel Cancer last year.
Lara Rodwell, 23, wrote 'From Prognosis to Peace' after the death of her father, who received a terminal prognosis in March 2020.
"From the moment we got that prognosis, I accepted my grief and spent those six months being present with Dad. There’s a lot of shame and guilt when someone you love receives that prognosis – like you can’t ask for what you want or need to feel more at peace with the situation. However, in a way, this is your time to be selfish. You are in this together.”
“I remember Dad saying to me that we shouldn’t feel sorry for him as we’re the ones who are going to be living on earth without a Dad. He’s not going to see me get married one day or meet his grandchildren – that it’s us that are going to struggle. These words meant so much to me. He gave me permission to ask for what I needed to grieve.”
Having always written letters to one another, Lara wrote to her father in the months leading up to his death and in return, he wrote the speech he planned to give on her wedding day.
They wrote together too, discussing their relationship with poems and anecdotes, some of which form part of the book.
Lara continued: “I know from first-hand experience that this is not easy. In fact, accepting that my dad was going to die was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done or will ever do. However, the peace I felt once I could talk to him was an invaluable part of my healing journey. By the end of the book, I hope people will feel stronger, lighter, and more connected to themselves, their loved ones and the world around them.”